EMPORIUM — An Emporium woman has been accused of several arson offenses following an investigation of a March 16 fire by a state police fire marshal.

Ashley Jo Callaway, 30, of 1741 Old West Creek Road, was charged with one felony count of arson-danger of death or bodily injury; one felony count of arson-intent to collect insurance; and one summary charge of dangerous burning following a fire believed to have been intentionally set.

Trooper John Whitcomb, the fire marshal, was called to the scene of a house fire by Emporium Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Adam Johnson, who stated that while members were inspecting the residence during fire-suppression efforts, there were four different points of origin of the fire within the residence. The most serious damage appeared to have occurred in the area of a second-story bedroom.

Through speaking with a family member, it was discovered that this was the second fire to be reported at that address in a matter of days. The first occurred on March 15, and was determined to be electrical in nature and caused by a power strip that ignited.

The family member stated that he went to the residence during the day to begin cleaning up damage from the initial fire, and that Callaway went there afterward to pick up clothes for their young son. The family had been staying with Callaway’s parents due to the first fire.

According to the affidavit of probable cause on file at Magisterial District Judge Barry Brown’s office, Whitcomb discovered an ignition point in the basement of the home, where two burned umbrella frames remained, but a source of ignition was not discovered. It appeared as though the ignition source had been removed from the area, the fire marshal’s report said.

Two ignition points were located in the dining room on the first floor of the home. In one area, a burned wicker basket filled with the remains of charred paper were discovered; some distance away, it appeared as though someone had attempted to start a fire on a power strip, and a small pile of burned papers was found nearby. The affidavit states it seemed the ignition source was removed from the area of the power strip.

In the second-story bedroom, Whitcomb discovered that the corner of the mattress had partially burned and the entire room was blackened by soot and had been damaged by heat and smoke. The documents indicate that Whitcomb “did not observe any source of ignition within this area, which indicated that an ignition source was introduced to this area and then removed.”

Whitcomb interviewed Callaway, and she allegedly admitted to attempting to start multiple fires at her residence, using a lighter. Callaway allegedly told officers she was dealing with a number of stressful events in her life, and when asked if burning the house down would alleviate her biggest financial concern, she stated, “yes,” according to court documents.

The affidavit states that the incidents “potentially placed every member of the EVFD in danger of death or bodily injury during the response and suppression of the fire. Additionally, there is Probable Cause to believe that the defendant ignited multiple fires within the residence in an effort to obtain potential insurance payment for the damage caused by the fires that she ignited.”

Callaway is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at Brown’s office at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 27. No attorney information is yet listed for Callaway’s defense.