A Hazel Dell woman who bemoaned the deaths of her dog and cat in a fast-moving house fire Monday was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of setting the $100,000 blaze.
Tricia Dezellem, 36, was being held without bail in the Clark County Jail on Tuesday night on suspicion of first-degree arson, a jail employee said.
Fire District 6 was called to the family’s rented home at 412 N.W. 78th St. about 10:35 a.m. Monday and found flames erupting through a shattered front-room window, said spokeswoman Dawn Johnson.
Firefighters streamed water on the flames and confined them to the front room, though the rest of the house sustained smoke damage.
Damage was estimated to $50,000 to the house and $50,000 to the family’s belongings.
On Monday, Dezellem told The Columbian that she was grieving for the death of her beagle, Ginger, and her gray-and-white cat, Bubba Jr.
About 5 p.m. Tuesday, officials arrested Dezellem based on evidence of arson that Clark County Deputy Fire Marshal Curtis Eavenson found at the scene, and also based on Dezellem’s statements, Johnson said.
Officials declined to say why or how the fire was started, saying the investigation was ongoing.
Dezellem and her husband, Tim Dezellem, have two children, one a student at Columbia River High School and another at Eisenhower Elementary School, she said.
