Posted on December 7, 2010

Woman Sets House on Fire After Being Locked Out, Police Say

WTAE-TV (Pittsburgh), November 27, 2010

A woman has been charged with arson after Pittsburgh police said she set a house that she owns on fire after locking herself out.

Firefighters {snip} were able to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent row houses.

Police said they arrived at the scene and were told by fire officials that Lorean Simmons, 57, of Verona, told responding officers that she had started the fire.

Simmons indicated that she ignited the awning so the fire bureau would respond and open her door, but then called 911 after the fire started because she did not want the whole house to burn, police said.

{snip}