Police have arrested a 34-year-old Brighton Beach resident for allegedly setting fire to the apartment she shared with her mother on Tuesday night.
Cops arrested Anna Lambert on Wednesday night on multiple misdemeanor and felony charges, according to court documents, including arson and criminal mischief. The top charge, arson in the second degree — starting a fire with the knowledge that someone might be in the building — carries a sentence of up to 25 years in prison.
Lambert was ordered held on a $300,000 bond or $150,000 cash bail, which had not been posted as of Thursday morning.
The New York post reports that Lambert and her mother got into an argument in the 3033 Brighton 13th Street apartment at about 9pm on March 8, prompting Lambert to go into the bedroom, pour an “unknown substance” on the floor, and light the fire.
More than 100 firefighters responded to the two-alarm blaze, which injured five residents and left two apartments heavily damaged. Smoke eaters helped residents on the third floor of the four-story building escape down a ladder upon arrival, and rescued one additional tenant — likely Lambert’s mother — who was trapped inside the apartment just before it was engulfed in flames, according to an FDNY Instagram post.
First responders had the flames under control in just about an hour and a half — after having their efforts hindered by an SUV parked in front of the fire hydrant.
The FDNY said on Tuesday that the fire marshal would be investigating the cause of the fire.
