A Texas woman was arrested after allegedly confessing to setting fire to a house, killing a man and his three dogs as the flames spread throughout a mobile home park, officials said.
The arson suspect has been identified by officials as 38-year-old Mirsa Lopez, according to a statement from the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department shared with PEOPLE on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Jail records show 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.
Firefighters responded to a report of a fire at a mobile home park in Northwest Dallas at about 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, according to the statement. They said they found flames coming from the back of one of the homes and two vehicles.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by Fox 4 Dallas, Lopez is accused of starting the fire at the home of one of the residents with whom she was in a relationship. Lopez claimed that she was upset he wouldn’t let her inside to use the bathroom, per the affidavit, the outlet reported.
The homeowner, identified by authorities as Gary Fischer, said after denying Lopez entry into his home, he heard a loud noise and went outside to see a fire, NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth reported.
“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.”
Additionally, witnesses reported seeing Lopez sitting in a chair outside the burning mobile home, Fox 4 reported, citing the affidavit.
Fire officials said in their statement that the flames were so intense that it led to a second-alarm response, with additional units being called to the scene. The fire spread to at least four mobile homes and four vehicles, according to the department.
The Dallas Fire-Rescue Department also said a man was found unresponsive inside one of the homes. He was treated at the scene and taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Three dogs also died as a result of the fire.
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Firefighters worked to douse the flames for over two hours, before putting the fire out and declaring it extinguished at 8:40 a.m., per the statement. Officials said the American Red Cross was contacted to assist at least 11 people.
According to the affidavit, which was also obtained by WFAA, Lopez allegedly admitted to investigators that she started the fire by using a lighter to ignite a plastic bag. She also claimed, per the affidavit, that she did not try to extinguish the fire, according to the outlet.
Fischer told NBC5 that his home was damaged in the fire, but the loss of his two dogs upset him the most.
“They weren’t there at the door,” he told the station. “I expected both of them to be right there.”
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