Wellsville woman pleads guilty to starting North Broad Street apartment house fire

A Wellsville resident could face up to 25 years in state prison for setting a fire that totaled a North Broad Street apartment house in the village last year.

Jessica L. Morrison, 32, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Allegany County Court to felony second-degree arson in connection with the May 2, 2023 fire that ripped through a four-unit, two-story, wood-framed building at 46 N. Broad St. in Wellsville.

Fire investigators determined the blaze, which took about three hours to bring under control, was started on a second floor exterior stairwell 10 to 15 minutes before it was reported at 3:20 a.m.

Officials at the time said as many as six people lived in the apartment house. All escaped injury, although a couple of pets were treated.

Police said Morrison became a “person of interest” based on information obtained from “community involvement.” While Morrison did not live in the building, she had a previous relationship with a building tenant, police said.

She was arrested a day after the fire and in addition to arson, Morrison was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree criminal mischief.

Morrison pleaded guilty to the top charge, which is a class B felony with a minimum five-year sentence. Sentencing is June 18 before Allegany County Court Judge Thomas Brown.

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The building has since been demolished and the lot sits vacant.

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