A 13-year-old is believed to have attempted to set fire to her own residence while her parents were inside last evening in the Barbee Lake area of Kosciusko County. (see related)

North Webster/Tippecanoe Township firemen and Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded at 10:43 p.m. to a report of a house fire at house 33 EMS B33A Lane, Warsaw. Responding firemen arrived and eventually were able to extinguish the fire, but requested Squad 70 / Fire Investigation Team of Kosciusko County. North Webster firemen and Squad 70 member determined during their preliminary investigation that three separate points of origin for the fire were located inside the residence.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department deputies and detectives had located a 13-year-old female outside the residence upon their initial arrival to the scene. The homeowners were able to escape the residence and allowed officers to speak with their daughter. After contacting the Kosciusko County Probation Department, officers took the juvenile into custody during the course of the investigation. She is currently being evaluated and held in custody as the investigation continues.

The Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office advises that the defendant’s charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.