Woman arrested on suspicion of setting parents’ home on fire in Encinitas

Sheriff’s investigators have arrested a 42-year-old woman on suspicion of setting her parents’ home on fire in Encinitas on Wednesday afternoon, July 12, officials said.

(File photo)

Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters were called to a condominium on Via Terrassa off Via Molena around 2:45 p.m. after someone spotted smoke coming from the home. They extinguished the small blaze, which was confined to one room.

The homeowners — a couple in their 70s — were not home at the time, said sheriff’s Sgt. Anthony Portillo of the bomb-arson unit. No one was injured.

The small fire caused moderate smoke damage. Portillo said investigators determined the fire was intentionally set.

Sheriff’s officials learned the couple and their daughter had gotten in an argument earlier in the afternoon. Several hours later, deputies located the woman hiding a couple blocks away from the condo.

She was arrested on suspicion of arson to an inhabited dwelling, elder abuse and violating a restraining order. She was booked into the Vista jail.

“Unfortunately there is history of her being arrested and served with restraining orders. There was an active and served (temporary restraining order) when she returned to the home yesterday and started the fire,” Portillo said in an email.

Jail records indicate the woman was being held in lieu of $160,000 bail, and is slated to be arraigned Friday, July 14.