A woman who police say has a history of lighting things on fire has been arrested in connection with a large fire Wednesday that destroyed a recreational vehicle and garage in West Haven, Weber County.
Emergency crews were called just after 6:30 a.m. to a structure fire along 2100 South in West Haven, according to the Weber Fire District. They arrived to find an RV parked partially inside a detached garage. Both the RV and garage were on fire and the flames were threatening a house, according to a police affidavit.
After the fire was extinguished, the residents of the house accused Rosa Mendez, 39, of starting it, the affidavit states.
One witness who was in the house heard Mendez arguing with a man in the trailer. After Mendez allegedly yelled at the man, whom she was dating, for some time, the witness “looked out his window and saw Rosa walking away from the trailer yelling ‘just burn in the fire,’” according to the affidavit.
Moments later, the man in the trailer was banging on the door of the house yelling, “Get out! Rosa lit the trailer on fire!” the affidavit states.
No one was injured in the incident.
“During other interviews with family members on scene, fire marshals learned that there have been several other incidents where Rosa has started fires in the home but they are always able to put them out,” according to the affidavit. “It has been reported that Rosa has started several fires at the residence within the last few months.”
Mendez was booked into the Weber County Jail for investigation of aggravated arson.