Ironton woman arrested in arson
Published 9:57 am Friday, January 8, 2010
An Ironton woman remains in the Lawrence County Jail today, charged with arson in connection with a fire at her duplex apartment Wednesday evening.
Anita Edens, 45, of 1021 S. Sixth St. in Ironton, was arraigned Thursday in Ironton Municipal Court on a charge of first-degree aggravated arson.
Judge O. Clark Collins set bond at $100,000 and scheduled a Jan. 14 preliminary hearing.
Investigators allege Edens started a fire in her unit of the duplex which injured her husband.
The couple then tried to extinguish the fire without calling the fire department.
A short time later, the Ironton Fire Department responded to reports of a fire at the duplex because the original fire had re-ignited and spread to both units of the duplex, causing heavy fire damage to Edens’ apartment and smoke, water and moderate fire damage to the other unit.
Neighbors alerted the occupants of that apartment and they escaped unharmed.
Smoke detectors were present in 1021 S. Sixth, however they did not function. Detectors were present in 1023 S. Sixth, but it is unknown if they activated.
According to information from the State Fire Marshal’s Office, additional charges against Edens are possible and the matter remains under investigation.
The incident occurred just after 8 p.m. Wednesday.
The husband, whose name authorities have not released, reportedly refused treatment for his injuries.