PHILADELPHIA, NY — A woman was arrested on arson and burglary charges following a fire at an apartment building on Nov. 25.
The Philadelphia Fire Department was dispatched at approximately 6:38 p.m. to a structure fire at 72 Main Street in the village of Philadelphia.
A nearby occupant reported the fire after being alerted by a smoke alarm and observing smoke coming from the rear of a second-story unit.
Multiple fire departments responded to extinguish the blaze.
An origin and cause investigation was conducted by members of the Jefferson County Fire Origin and Cause Team, Fire Investigators from the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, and members of the New York State Police.
The fire was determined to be incendiary.
Brittney I. Empey, 32, of Philadelphia, was arrested and charged with arson in the second degree, a class B felony, and burglary in the second degree, a class C felony.
Empey was arraigned in Jefferson County CAP Court and remanded to Jefferson County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 bond, or $200,000 secured bond.
