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SALT LAKE CITY — A woman who Salt Lake arson investigators believe intentionally started two fires in the past eight months has been arrested.
Krista Faye Harper, 26, of Salt Lake City, was arrested Friday for investigation of two counts of aggravated arson and reckless burning.
On Aug. 23, 2014, investigators believe Harper set a bed on fire in her house, 1134 N. Taffeta Drive, closed the door and walked outside while three children and Harper's elderly grandmother were still inside, according to a Salt Lake County Jail report. The other family members were awake at the time and got out safely, said Salt Lake fire spokesman Jasen Asay.
Damage to the house was contained to the bedroom and was estimated to be about $20,000.
At that time, Harper had told arson investigators that one of the children had started the fire, Asay said.
On Feb. 22, Harper set another fire inside Steiner Education, 312 E. South Temple, Asay said. She was hired as a temporary employee and it was a second day on the job, he said. Investigators interviewed nearly a dozen witnesses including Harper, and learned she was also present at the other fire.
Harper used a flammable liquid to ignite an electrical power strip under a desk in the basement on fire, according to the report. She is also accused of "sabotaging the building's computer network" and setting off a fire alarm an hour prior to setting the fire "in an attempt to disrupt business," the report states.
Damage was still being tallied on Monday, Asay said, but was expected to reach about $25,000.
As of Monday, Asay said he did not know of a possible motive for the fires.
