West View Mother Charged with Starting Fire that Destroyed Her Home to Face Judge

A West View mother whose home was destroyed by fire in January is due in court Wednesday to face charges that she set the blaze.

Rachelle Lightsey, 37, was the only person home when the fire started in living room of her home at 17 Fairview Avenue shortly after 11 p.m. on January 20.

Lightsey's four children were not at home at the time. Neither was her husband.

According to the criminal complaint, arson investigators believe Lightsey had been drinking and that her cigarette started the fire on a couch. She acknowledges that she smokes, but not inside the house, according to the complaint.

The fire eventually spread to the home next door at 19 Fairview Ave.

Police charged Lightsey risked her neighbors lives as well as the police officers and firefighters who arrived to help.

According to the criminal complaint, Lightsey denied starting the fire and tried to put it out, but did not know how to use her fire extinguisher.

Investigators determined that "a couch fire as described by Lightsey would have created a significant amount of smoke before flames would be visibile" -- and that the actions she took "did not seem logical."

According to court documents, Lightsey faces six counts of arson and endangering persons, two counts of recklessly endangering another person, and one count each of arson and endangering property, insurance fraud and causing or risking a catastrophe.

She has been free on bond since April. She is scheduled to appear before Magistrate Richard Opiela at 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 12.

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