Background: The neighborhood in Dallas, Texas, where Jermecia Murphy allegedly set a house on fire (Google Maps). Inset: Jermecia Murphy (Dallas County Jail).

Jermecia Murphy, 37, faces charges including criminal mischief, obstructing public duties, and drug possession following a house fire incident in Dallas on Friday. According to a report from KDFW, a local Fox affiliate, Dallas Fire-Rescue crews were called to a blaze on Prosperity Avenue around 12:58 a.m. As firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, Murphy allegedly attempted to sabotage their efforts by slashing the water hoses with a knife.

Authorities promptly arrested Murphy after her alleged attempt to disrupt the firefighting process. Witnesses at the scene reportedly overheard her admitting to setting the fire, as detailed by KDFW.

Once firefighters managed to contain the blaze by approximately 1:30 a.m., investigators found that the fire originated in the front room of the single-story home. They concluded it was “incendiary in nature,” indicating it was deliberately set with flammable materials ignited by an unknown source. Investigators suspect that the fire was intentionally ignited.

After firefighters put out the fire at about 1:30 a.m., investigators determined it had been started in the front room of the one-story house. Evidence indicated the fire was “incendiary in nature,” meaning it was set when combustible materials were set ablaze inside by an unknown heat source. Investigators allegedly believed that the fire was set intentionally.

No one was inside the house when the fire started, and no one was injured, according to Dallas Fire-Rescue.

Dallas Fire-Rescue authorities stated that they expected Murphy to be charged with arson in addition to the other four charges.

Murphy was booked into the Dallas County Jail, where her total bond is $16,000.