UPDATE: Cops lay arson charge against teen after mattress lit up

UPDATE: Cops lay arson charge against teen after mattress lit up
Firefighters doused the flames at a Second Street West blaze Wednesday morning.

CORNWALL, Ontario – An early morning fire in the west end last month has resulted in an arson charge against a 14-year-old girl.

Poliec confirmed Friday the youth was arrested this week and was held for a bail hearing.

She cannot be named.

The fire sent a couple of residents scurrying from their home in bedclothes.

Firefighters responded to the smoky blaze at about 8 a.m. Nov. 26 at a Second Street West home.

The owner of the home, who was not identified, said the fire was sparked in a basement bedroom, and quickly engulfed a mattress.

The scene was cordoned off with yellow police tape and police cars were parked at the home for much of the day.

The homeowner said it didn’t take long for rooms to begin filling with smoke.

“I called 911 when I saw all the smoke,” she said in an interview in her driveway. “A police officer arrived first.

“He came in and saw the smoke downstairs and said ‘We’re not going down there.'”

The officer ushered the occupants of the home out, and firefighters who arrived shortly after doused the flames.

A window was broken by firefighters to allow for ventilation and fans had been set up at the front door of the home to expel the fumes.

No one was hurt. The damage was contained to the basement of the home, and was pegged at several thousand dollars.

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