A Schuylkill County woman has been charged with arson after she allegedly admitted to setting fire to an apartment building earlier this week.
Police in Tamaqua say they and local fire and emergency personnel were called to 44 Mauch Chunk St. in Tamaqua shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 11).
Upon arrival, firefighters encountered flames coming from one of the apartments.
Police say they saw Keyshawna Hausman on a gurney coming from an apartment to an ambulance parked down the street.
When asked what happened, Hausman allegedly admitted to starting the fire because she was emotionally distressed.
Hausman was placed into an ambulance, police say.
During a follow-up interview with Hausman as she was in the ambulance at the scene, she allegedly nodded her head as police spoke to her.
Hausman allegedly said a lot had been going on in the last two years. She reportedly said she tried speaking with her landlord about the problems and warned them that something bad was going to happen.
“I had enough. I had a fight earlier with the other tenants. I was (bleeping) around with my lighter and lit it on fire,” she is quoted as saying to police.
Hausman allegedly told police that she set her shower curtain on fire as it was laying on the floor.
Three people at the scene were treated for smoke inhalation. Hausman was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in Coaldale for treatment.
Police have charged Hausman with felony counts of arson, aggravated arson, risking catastrophe, and criminal mischief, as well as a misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment.
She has not been arraigned on these charges, as of Friday afternoon.
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