Woman Arrested After Fire at Mother’s Home

A Ventura woman was arrested Saturday afternoon after she allegedly set her mother’s house on fire, authorities said.

The single-story house in the 300 block of Fairfax Avenue sustained heat and smoke damage in the 3 p.m. fire, according to Ventura Fire Department Battalion Chief Brian Gordon. It took firefighters about 10 minutes to put out the blaze.

Ventura Police Officer Gary DeCamp said there were several points of ignition inside the house. Firefighters dragged a smoldering mattress and box spring out a bedroom window to the front of the structure and a fire-damaged recliner out the front door.

DeCamp identified the suspect as 43-year-old Darlene Mosser, who lived in the house with her mother and a sister.

DeCamp said Mosser, who was the only person in the house at the time of the fire, was arrested on suspicion of arson.

The blaze brought out about 30 residents from the neighborhood.

Police said Mosser was upset over the possible sale of the house.

However, Mosser’s mother said she did not think the blaze was deliberately set.

“We just don’t know what happened,” Wanda Mosser said. “You know how pots can boil over and a fire starts.”