Fort Erie woman charged with arson after fire guts building

Niagara | Crime | Fire |

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Published April 18, 2022 at 9:26 am

A Fort Erie woman has been charged after a Saturday (April 16) night trashed a building late that evening.

Niagara Police and the Fort Erie Fire Department responded to the 11:30 pm call when a small structure in the Bertie Street and Central Avenue area went up in flames.

However, once there, the police heard reports of a woman seen leaving the area with a gas can. She was quickly identified and located while the fire department extinguished the blaze. No one was injured.

Heather Van Rossum, 55, of Fort Erie is charged with arson with disregard for human life and failing to comply with an undertaking.

She was held in custody to attend a video bail hearing yesterday at a courthouse in Hamilton.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact 5 District detectives at 905-688-4111, extension #1022300.

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