Last week, a woman living in a mobile home in La Center allegedly set her house on fire while she was inside of it. The resident, Cindy Jo Clem, 50, was apparently upset about a recent breakup, according to police.
Emergency responders who arrived at the scene included the La Center Police Department, Clark County Fire and Rescue and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
They were informed of the situation by a 911 call from Clem’s former boyfriend. The boyfriend had received a call from Clem just before in which she informed him that she was going to burn their house down with her inside of it, according to police.
The boyfriend previously lived at the mobile home.
When crews arrived at 4517 N.E. 372nd St., La Center, at about 9:30 p.m. last Tuesday, Deputy Eric Cramer breached a door to get inside the burning home. Once inside, he could hear a woman’s voice but was unable to enter through the billowing black smoke. Firefighters then entered the home and found Clem laying on the floor. After they got out, the fire was extinguished.
Following the incident, Clem received treatment at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center and was then booked into Clark County Jail on a charge of first-degree arson.
No additional details were available and the case is still under investigation.
