Arson charges have been brought against a woman in Dallas who reportedly confessed to setting a house on fire because she was denied access to the bathroom.
Authorities in Dallas have apprehended and accused Mirsa Lopez, 38, of arson with the intention of damaging a residence. Further charges are being considered.
As per an arrest report obtained by NBC 5, Lopez acknowledged to the police that she deliberately ignited a fire on Saturday morning after being refused entry by Gary Fischer at his mobile home park on 2665 Lombardy Lane in Northwest Dallas.
Fischer recounted to NBC 5 that he was awakened by a knock on his door and the barking of his dogs.
“There she was standing,” Fischer recalled. “I told her to come back later, closed the door, and locked it.”
A short while later, Fischer heard a loud noise and spotted flames outside his residence.
“I saw fire at the top of the window and smoke filling the room rapidly. It was hard to breathe,” Fischer described.
Upon the arrival of the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department, flames were observed at the rear of one of the mobile homes and two vehicles. The fire quickly spread to adjacent homes, prompting a second alarm response.
Four homes were completely destroyed, and two others sustained damage. Inside one of the homes, firefighters discovered an unconscious man who was later pronounced dead at the hospital. As of Monday afternoon, the victim remained unidentified.
“He wasn’t a resident. He was a visitor,” Fischer clarified.
On Monday morning, Fischer returned to the scene of the fatal fire in an attempt to salvage valuables.
“I found many photos,” Fischer shared. “I recovered my son’s ashes.”
Fischer's residence and two vehicles were destroyed. While the burden of replacing his possessions weighs heavily on him, Fischer expressed that losing his two dogs, Gracie and Honey, is the most painful.
“They weren’t at the door. I expected them to be there,” Fischer lamented.
According to the affidavit, Lopez confessed to “using a lighter to ignite a plastic bag.” She disclosed to the police that she and Fischer had been in a relationship, she was upset about being denied entry, and she was aware that Fischer was inside when she started the fire.
Adjacent to Gary Fischer's property was the residence of Apolinar Moreno, his wife, and their six children ranging from 2 to 17 years old.
“Agradecido con Dios,” Moreno expressed in Spanish. Clad only in the clothes on their backs and filled with gratitude, Moreno thanked God for their survival.
Moreno had to leave for work on Saturday morning and had set his alarm for 6:30 a.m. Upon waking up, he found his room engulfed in smoke.
Moreno and his eldest son assisted everyone out. By Monday afternoon, the family sat in their SUV across from the charred remains. Moreno mentioned that people had donated clothes.
In Spanish, Moreno informed NBC 5 that many individuals had contributed clothing and shoes. Currently, the donations fill the trunk of his SUV, but he is determined to find a new home.
The American Red Cross has confirmed that they are providing immediate aid to 14 individuals, including housing. The survivors expressed feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of starting anew.
via: 5 NBCDFW
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