Woman arrested for arson
By Chris Sykes and Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writers
An accused arsonist allegedly set fire to an occupied Ward Place house March 11, South Orange police said last week.
Mexiane Joseph, subsequently arrested and charged with aggravated arson, allegedly used an unidentified flammable liquid to start a fire on the front porch, near the door, shortly before 8:45 p.m.
Authorities said Joseph had at some point threatened to harm the homeowner, who police said had no relation to Joseph but knew her.
The homeowner heard a loud noise coming from the front of the house and saw Joseph, 52, of Irvington, fleeing the scene, police Chief James M. Chelel said Friday.
The eight people living in the three-story dwelling escaped unharmed, as firefighters extinguished the blaze in 15 to 16 minutes, fire Chief Jeffrey M. Markey said Friday.
No one was reported injured, as the South Orange Fire Department ruled the fire an arson, Markey said. It was the first arson in town this year, authorities said.
The occupants of the house are staying with relatives in Maplewood, Markey said.
An alert South Orange fire captain, en route to Ward Place the day of the fire, spotted Joseph walking erratically on South Orange Avenue. She fit the description of a suspect in an auto fire earlier in the day in Irvington, Markey said.
An accused arsonist allegedly set fire to an occupied Ward Place house March 11, South Orange police said last week.
Mexiane Joseph, subsequently arrested and charged with aggravated arson, allegedly used an unidentified flammable liquid to start a fire on the front porch, near the door, shortly before 8:45 p.m.
Authorities said Joseph had at some point threatened to harm the homeowner, who police said had no relation to Joseph but knew her.
The homeowner heard a loud noise coming from the front of the house and saw Joseph, 52, of Irvington, fleeing the scene, police Chief James M. Chelel said Friday.
The eight people living in the three-story dwelling escaped unharmed, as firefighters extinguished the blaze in 15 to 16 minutes, fire Chief Jeffrey M. Markey said Friday.
No one was reported injured, as the South Orange Fire Department ruled the fire an arson, Markey said. It was the first arson in town this year, authorities said.
The occupants of the house are staying with relatives in Maplewood, Markey said.
An alert South Orange fire captain, en route to Ward Place the day of the fire, spotted Joseph walking erratically on South Orange Avenue. She fit the description of a suspect in an auto fire earlier in the day in Irvington, Markey said.
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