A 36-year-old woman is facing criminal charges for allegedly starting a fire in a downtown Canton building Monday afternoon.
A fire broke out at the YWCA building located on 6th St NE in Canton just after 12 p.m.
Upon arrival at the scene, fire crews discovered that the building had been evacuated by staff members. They were informed that the fire had originated in the basement and had been partially extinguished by the YWCA staff.
Later in the day, Canton Fire Department Fire Investigators arrested 36-year-old Lakenya Jones, of Canton on a charge of Aggravated Arson. She is currently being held at
the Stark County Jail.
Further investigation by the fire crews revealed isolated spots of fire in the basement, which were extinguished. Due to the considerable volume of smoke and the size of the building, ventilation efforts took an extended period of time to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
The Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance to both staff members and residents of the YWCA building during the ventilation process. The exact extent of the damage sustained by the structure is currently being assessed.
Fortunately, there were no reported injuries among civilians or firefighters as a result of the incident. The sprinkler and alarm systems within the building have been restored, allowing for the safe re-occupation of the YWCA building as of 4 p.m. on the same day. At present, the cause of the fire remains under investigation, and authorities are working diligently to determine its origin.
Further details regarding the incident will be released as they become available.