Dallas arson suspect accused of stabbing fire hose line during house fire
37 year-old, Jermecia Denise Murphy (Source: Dallas County Jail)
DALLAS - A Dallas woman faces arson and criminal mischief charges after investigators say she intentionally set a house on fire and then stabbed a fire hose to stop firefighters from putting out the flames.
Dallas woman stabs fire hose line
What we know:
Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR) units were called to a house fire in the 2900 block of Prosperity Ave. at 12:58 a.m. Friday following multiple 911 calls. Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire conditions at the one-story home. Crews extinguished the fire, which was located in a corner room in the front of the house, by 1:35 a.m.
While DFR was actively battling the blaze, 37-year-old Jermecia Denise Murphy, of Dallas, reportedly took a knife to one of the fire hoses, trying to prevent the crews' efforts. She was immediately placed under arrest at the scene and initially charged with criminal mischief.
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Investigators later determined the fire began in the front room and was "incendiary in nature," meaning an unknown heat source was used to ignite combustible materials in the room. Authorities believe Murphy was the person who set the fire after multiple witnesses at the scene heard her admit to starting it while she was stabbing the fire hose.
No injuries were reported, as the house was unoccupied at the time the fire was set.
Murphy is currently being held in the Dallas County Jail where she is charged with criminal mischief, interfering with public duties, possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. Her combined bond is set at $16,000. Dallas Fire Rescue officials say they expect arson to be added to her list of charges.
The Source: Information in this article is from Dallas Fire Rescue and the Dallas County Jail.