A destructive blaze that resulted in the displacement of residents and injuries to firefighters has led to the arrest of a 23-year-old woman on arson charges, with the fire’s origins tracing back to a domestic dispute that escalated perilously. According to CBS Austin, the fire took place at The Lakes at Renaissance Park apartments in North Austin on January 2nd, where Amaiya Byrd is accused of igniting her boyfriend’s jacket on the balcony of her apartment, leading to significant damage to the building.
Witnesses reported Byrd’s erratic demeanor as she left the premises, after which she later admitted to authorities that she indeed set the jacket on fire using a lighter; this information comes from the court documents referenced by both CBS Austin and KVUE. The fire, which quickly escalated, resulted in the urgent response of approximately 40 firefighters who battled the flames that spread across multiple floors into the attic, with one firefighter injured and another person needing medical treatment for respiratory distress. Byrd was booked into Travis County Jail and remains there as the investigation continues.
In a statement to KVUE, a relative of Byrd’s recounted her relationship issues and her consequent actions of setting the jacket on fire, though she had no intention for the fire to expand as dreadfully as it did. The affidavit elaborates that all 19 unit residents at the Lakes at Renaissance Park were unable to return to their apartments after the evacuation process…