A quiet West Allis block turned into a crime scene early Sunday morning after a homeowner says her security camera caught someone sneaking up to her house, splashing flammable liquid along the side and setting it on fire while she slept inside.
The flames mostly chewed through the mulch beside the house and caused little structural damage, according to the homeowner. Neighbors spotted the blaze, called it in, and the West Allis Fire Department rushed over and put out the fire while the resident stayed asleep, unaware anything had happened.
Kaleigh Werra, who moved back to the neighborhood in April, told FOX6 News Milwaukee that her surveillance footage shows a person in a blue sweatshirt and bucket hat walking up just after midnight, carrying a bucket and dousing the mulch before setting it ablaze.
Werra said she did not find out about the fire until hours later, when a neighbor knocked on her door. She told the station she had just returned after spending the previous two weeks working in San Francisco. By Sunday afternoon, police were on scene and investigators had opened a suspected arson investigation.
"For the most part it was just the mulch that stayed burning, not the house or anything," Werra told FOX6. Fire crews checked for and put out hot spots, then cleared the scene. Werra urged neighbors to tighten up their security and keep an eye on camera footage while police continue to dig into what happened. The station reported that it had reached out to police and fire officials for more information but had not heard back at the time of publication.
How To Report Suspicious Activity In West Allis
City officials say residents can report concerns through the city’s “Let Us Help” portal or contact municipal offices for non-emergency help, according to the City of West Allis. The city website lists contact resources and encourages neighbors to share camera footage or tips with police, and to call 911 for immediate emergencies.
Community members who saw anything unusual or have information related to the incident are asked to contact authorities so investigators can follow up.
