A Muskegon woman is in custody following a fire that police say was set intentionally at a home early yesterday morning. The fire, which broke out around 5:20 a.m. on Mcilwraith Street, near E Laketon Avenue, caused significant damage to the property and affected at least one neighboring home, according to FOX 17.
Witness Monica Tate was going to work when the blaze caught her attention. She expressed her immediate concern for any occupants, stating, "I just passed it on Laketon and I see flames," and felt relieved upon realizing that "everyone was out the house." Officers responding to the incident took a 45-year-old woman into custody, and her apparent connection to the fire reportedly stemmed from a domestic dispute. "She was on the corner with a suitcase with two little young children, and they were very... they were frantic," Tate recalled, as the woman confessed to setting the fire due to frustration with her boyfriend's behavior, according to FOX 17.
The Muskegon Police Department and firefighters swiftly responded to the scene following the emergency calls. Bari Davis, a neighbor, stated as per WOODTV that he alerted authorities upon witnessing the intense fire: "It was a big fire. I was like, 'Oh, (expletive), the house on fire!'" Thankfully, all occupants of the house managed to escape unharmed.
The suspect, a 44-year-old Muskegon resident on probation since August for an assault involving a weapon, is awaiting formal arraignment. The Muskegon Police Department is asking anyone with information to come forward.
The fire investigation continues. It is believed to be linked to a domestic dispute, though charges against the woman have not yet been announced. To assist, contact Muskegon Police at 231-724-6750 or Silent Observer at 231-722-7463.
