BREMERTON, Wash. - Bremerton police have arrested a 21-year-old woman and accused her of setting fire to her own house early on Thanksgiving Day after an argument with her husband.



Police Chief Steven Strachan says in a news release Friday that detectives believe the woman had been drinking, damaged a couch with a knife and then used a propane torch, which set the couch on fire.

Police says she wasn't able to control the fire as it spread. A family dog died in the blaze and the home was destroyed.

Bremerton police tell KOMO News that the woman allegedly started the blaze after some kind of disagreement with her husband, who was at work when the fire started.

Bremerton officers and firefighters found the woman outside of the burning house Thursday around 3 a.m., blackened with soot. She was later treated for smoke inhalation at a local hospital then arrested for investigation of second-degree arson.



“I’m kind of shocked that it’s arson,” said Bruce Fuhrman, whose own home was damaged after the flames spread to his property.

Fuhrman said he woke up when he heard glass shattering and a woman screaming.

“I got up and saw an orange glow,” said Fuhrman.

The fire was so intense it shattered Fuhrman’s windows and melted his mini blinds. His side porch was also scorched. Luckily, Fuhrman and his family escaped without any injuries.

“The way the flames were coming this house could have gone up like a tinder box,” Fuhrman said.

Neighbors gathered outside the burning home Thursday morning to see what was going on but never suspected arson.



“She was really upset. She was screaming, crying,” said Don Knott who lives across the street. “I’m just dumbfounded. The way she was acting you’d have thought maybe it was just a grease fire,” Knott said.

The woman posted $100,000 bail on Friday and is scheduled to appear in Kitsap County Superior Court on Monday.

“She’s very lucky she’s not facing some homicide charges,” said Knott.

KOMO News tried to contact the owner of the Perry Avenue home that was destroyed in the fire, but she did not return our messages.