DANVILLE, Va. – The owner of a home that was gutted by fire Wednesday afternoon has now been charged with setting the blaze.

Assistant Fire Marshal Richard Guill said in a brief statement Friday that his office has determined the fire at 114 Freeze Road on February 3, 2021 was incendiary. The owner and occupant, Lottie Thomas, has been arrested by the Fire Marshal’s Office and currently is in the Danville City Jail charged with arson.

Because the house was occupied at the time the fire was set, this is classified as a Class 2 Felony. Under Virginia law, the felony is punishable by five years to life imprisonment and a fine of up to $100,000.

Danville firefighters responded to the address about 5 p.m. on Feb 3 and found that flames had spread from the brick rancher into the carport. The house suffered extensive damage and a dog died in the fire.

Firefighters had the blaze under control in less than a half-hour but the house sustained heavy fire, smoke, heat and water damage.

The Danville Fire Department responded with three engines, a ladder truck, and eighteen firefighters who remained on scene for almost four hours.