A Woman who Set Fire to a Tenement in a Capital area was Taken into Custody.
The owners of the property alerted authorities through the National Emergency Line 911, which allowed police officers to quickly arrive
A woman was arrested Tuesday by the National Police after allegedly starting a fire in a tenement in the Guadalupe neighborhood of Tegucigalpa.
The owners of the property alerted authorities through the National Emergency Line 911, which allowed police officers to quickly arrive.
After verifying the situation, they arrested the suspect for arson. At this time, authorities have not released the identity of the accused.
Similarly, it is unknown what motivated the Honduran woman to cause a structural disaster, regardless of the consequences.
How did the events occur?
According to information provided by the National Police, the 26-year-old detainee allegedly spread gasoline in several rooms before starting the fire , which caused much of the tenants’ furniture and personal belongings to be burned.
Agents from Metropolitan Prevention Unit #1 (UMEP-1) arrested her at the scene and referred her to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for prosecution.
Legal consequences
According to Article 183 of the Penal Code, anyone who causes a fire that endangers the life, integrity, or health of others must be punished with imprisonment of ten to fifteen years and a fine of one hundred and fifty to three hundred days’ salary.
While Article 184 warns that penalties increase by one-third when the fire is started in an inhabited place or a place intended for habitation; a public place or a place intended for public use; a vessel, aircraft, or other active public or private collective transport; a factory or commercial, industrial, agricultural, or food storage facility; a storage facility for explosive or flammable substances; and an oil well, mine gallery, or pipeline.
How to prevent fires at home
To avoid home fires, it is important to follow some preventive measures:
- Do not overload electrical outlets or leave electrical appliances unattended.
- Keep candles, lighters and matches out of reach of children.
- Store flammable products in safe, well-ventilated areas.
- Install smoke detectors and periodically check their operation.
- Have a fire extinguisher on hand and know how to use it properly.
- Do not leave pots or pans unattended in the kitchen.
