TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee woman was arrested after starting a fire at a vacant house trying to dry off her wet shoes.
Ashley Holley, 33, was arrested by the Leon County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday.
On Wednesday at about 9:13 p.m., deputies responded to a vacant house on T Bird Road in response to a trespassing call.
A neighbor said that Holley was at the vacant house next to her home, and started a fire at the vacant house.
When deputies arrived at the home, he saw an active fire on the front porch of the house with visible flames.
A deputy then used his agency-issued fire extinguisher to put out the fire.
While on scene, deputies found Holley walking down Wild Cherry Road.
While deputies were in the process of getting Holley's information, they asked where she was coming from and she replied "the vacant house down the street."
Holly said while talking to deputies that she has had recent family issues and was homeless. She came to the vacant house and admitted to entering the home at one point.
She told deputies that her shoes had gotten wet, so she grabbed a metal grate and lit a fire on the front porch to try and dry off her shoes.
After she lit the fire, Holly stated she was confronted by a neighbor who said they were calling the police.
Holly said she threw some dirt on the fire and then left the home, hiding in the woods nearby.
Deputies noted that while speaking to Holly, she was holding a lighter in her hands.
Deputies contacted the owners of the vacant home, who said no one should be on the property.
Holly is also currently on probation for trespassing.
Based on the information provided, Holly is being charged with second degree arson and violation of probation.
She was taken to the Leon County Detention Facility and her bond has been set at $5,000.
