A Clearwater Beach woman who police say threatened on Facebook Live to “huff and puff and blow” her boyfriend’s house down is now charged with first-degree arson after a backyard shed went up in flames.
The March 23 fire drew a quick evening response from Clearwater Fire & Rescue. Crews knocked down the blaze in a shed behind a home and reported no injuries. Investigators later identified the suspect as 55-year-old Heather Jo England and charged her with first-degree arson, according to police.
According to WKRC, the fire started in a shed behind a home on Devon Drive around 8 p.m. Quick work by firefighters limited damage to the main residence. Police say the house belongs to the boyfriend’s grandmother, but that the man sometimes slept in the shed. Surveillance video reportedly showed a vehicle leaving the area moments before the fire was discovered. An anonymous tip and a probable-cause affidavit then pointed detectives toward a Facebook Live recording in which England allegedly made the “huff and puff” threat.
How investigators say it was set
Law & Crime reports that after her arrest, England allegedly admitted she used a green camping-style propane tank with a torch attachment to ignite a camping cot inside the shed. An acquaintance told police England said she was “pissed off” that the boyfriend had stolen from her, according to the affidavit. England was booked into the Pinellas County Jail and held on a $150,000 bond, the outlet reports.
What first-degree arson means
Under Florida law, arson of a dwelling can be prosecuted as a first-degree felony with especially steep penalties if the structure is occupied or someone is injured. The state’s arson statutes spell out tiered penalties that depend on occupancy and harm, and a conviction can mean decades behind bars. For the statutory language, see the Florida Legislature.
Clearwater police say the investigation is still active. Anyone with information, video footage, or who watched the Facebook Live is urged to contact detectives, WKRC reports. Law & Crime notes that authorities have not yet listed a court date and that England remained jailed on a $150,000 bond after her arrest.
