A Texas woman has been arrested following a tragic fire that claimed the lives of a man and three dogs. The blaze, which tore through multiple homes and vehicles at a mobile home park in Northwest Dallas, has been linked to 38-year-old Mirsa Lopez. Authorities believe Lopez started the fire after a personal dispute.
According to a statement from the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department, Lopez was taken into custody after allegedly admitting to setting the fire. The incident occurred early Saturday morning, October 12, when firefighters responded to a call about a blaze at the mobile home park around 6:30 a.m.
Officials found flames engulfing the back of one of the homes as well as two nearby vehicles. The fire quickly spread, prompting a second-alarm response, with additional firefighting units rushing to the scene.
The fire tragically claimed the life of one man, who was found unresponsive inside one of the homes. Despite efforts to revive him, he was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
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Lopez has been charged with arson with intent to damage habitat. It’s unclear if she has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on her behalf.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Lopez is accused of causing a fire at the house of one of the residents with whom she was romantically involved. According to the affidavit, Lopez stated she was unhappy because he refused to let her in to use the bathroom.
The homeowner, identified by authorities as Gary Fischer stated that after denying Lopez entry into his home, he heard a loud noise and rushed outside to see a fire, according. “I saw fire coming in the top, top of the window and smoke filling the room quick,” Fischer recalled to NBC 5. “I mean, I could hardly breathe.”
Fischer’s home sustained heavy damage, but the loss of his two dogs has been the most heartbreaking for him. “They weren’t there at the door,” he said emotionally. “I expected both of them to be right there.”
Witnesses also saw Lopez sitting on a chair outside the blazing mobile home, according to Fox 4, citing an affidavit.
After being denied entry, Lopez allegedly used a lighter to ignite a plastic bag, which led to the deadly blaze. She admitted to investigators that she did not make any attempt to put out the fire once it started.
It took firefighters more than two hours to fully extinguish the flames, with the fire finally declared out by 8:40 a.m., according to the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department.
In addition to the man who lost his life, officials said the fire displaced at least 11 people, the American Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance to those affected.
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