Candia teenager faces arson for barn fire

Hooksett Editor — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:21:00 GMT

BY TOBY HENRY

Court documents state that an 18-year-old Candia resident has allegedly confessed to starting a fire inside her family’s Horizon Lane barn on Oct. 22.

Leanne Webster, of 139 Horizon Lane, faces a single charge of felony arson in connection with the incident. Court documents state the fire damaged at least three four-wheeled off-road vehicles in the barn. In a Candia District Court affidavit, Webster is alleged to have told police during an Oct. 28 interview she started the fire herself by setting two blankets in the barn on fire.

No one was injured in the incident, but the blaze reportedly damaged a large portion of the 16-foot-by-22-foot structure.

According to the documents, Fire Chief Rudy Carter deduced early on in the investigation that the fire had likely been set deliberately, and his observation was later confirmed by state Fire Marshal’s Office investigator Christopher Wyman. During the investigation, Wyman ruled out two electrical light fixtures as being a starting point for the fire.

The affidavit states that Webster told police on Oct. 23 that she had been arguing with her ex-boyfriend, who is a Candia firefighter, on Oct. 22 before the fire took place. Webster allegedly reported the fire herself later that day at 7:10 p.m., telling officials that “she became aware of the fire when she looked out a rear window of her home and noticed that the motion light on the barn was on and that she then noticed embers coming out of the right rear corner of the barn.”

Webster is also alleged to have voluntarily appeared at the Candia Police Station on Oct. 28, where she told officials that she set the fire by using a lighter to ignite two blankets. She allegedly told the investigators she did so out of anger at her ex-boyfriend and “was trying to get his attention.”

The affidavit also states that a Bedford insurer has tallied the damage at $15,726.

Webster did not list an employer on her court paperwork. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for Jan. 5.

Candia News : fire

Candia teenager faces arson for barn fire