Fairfield Police Department, together with Fairfield Volunteer Fire Department and the state Fire Marshal’s Office, arrested a woman after she started five fires in Fairfield on Thursday, April 25, 2019.
Carmel Norris, 38, was arrested by a patrol officer soon after the department received a call at 8:58 a.m.
During her arrest, Norris, admitted that she started fires at Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, Exxon and Jolly’s convenience stores, as well as at McDonald’s. All of which are located on or near U.S. Highway 84 in Fairfield.
Norris was also seen at Fuel Max where she did not start a fire, but stole a cup of coffee.
All fires were started in the women’s restroom in either a trash can or paper dispenser.
Norris told officers that after she started the fires, she quickly left the scene and walked to the next business.
A transient, Norris told officers that she had been in the city for five days.
An unknown quantity of a substance, suspected to be synthetic marijuana, was also found on her person.
Business employees and Fairfield Volunteer Firefighters quickly put out the restroom fires. Damages were contained to the restrooms of each facility. Firefighters and officers secured the scenes while investigators from the state Fire Marshal’s Office came to investigate.
Norris was taken to Freestone Medical Center for evaluation and was later transported to the Limestone County Jail in Groesbeck.
The investigation is ongoing and charges of arson will be filed for the five incidents.
