Resident Admits to Setting Fire at Her Own Residence in The Dalles
By Joshuah Albert
The Dalles, Ore., Feb. 2, 2024 — In the early morning on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2024, local authorities received a call from Amy Cardoza.
The 56-year-old reported setting a residence on fire at 109 E. 7th St. with a lighter in the kitchen of a duplex at approximately 3:36 a.m.
Cardoza admitted to the 911 dispatcher that she used a lighter to ignite the blaze, according to The Dalles Police log. She also said the house was used as a methamphetamine production site and that is what motivated her to light it up.
One problem.
Cardoza resided at the same address.
Despite Cardoza’s claim of seeing only smoke and no flames initially, emergency responders arrived to find smoke coming from the building, which is a single-story duplex, according to the log.
The apartment was a fully involved fire when firefighters showed up. It eventually destroyed the entire apartment and about 40 percent of the neighboring apartment within the duplex, said Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue Chief Bob Palmer.
“It’s not very often people admit to lighting a fire,” Palmer added, noting he had run into an admission of starting a fire only once before in his career.
On Friday afternoon, one neighbor to the duplex said Cardoza has had a history of mental illness with paranoid delusions, and they were unaware of any meth lab operation.
The Dalles Police could not be reached for comment on Friday afternoon, Feb. 2
Cardoza was detained on the scene and later transported for medical clearance. She has been lodged at NORCOR jail in West The Dalles and is being held on suspicion of arson.
The incident prompted a substantial interagency effort, with Wasco County Deputies assisting The Dalles Police in evacuations and scene management, underlining the complexities of emergency responses to arson-related crimes.
Despite the admission of starting the fire, Chief Palmer said a full investigation into the cause is underway, with investigators from Mid-Columbia, Oregon State Police, The Dalles Police, and The State Fire Marshall’s office collaborating.
The other side had to check for extension 40 percent damaged - look for hidden fire - worked way from 109 apartment fully involved apt. Unit - worked away cross attic and had to move into the other department - in doing so it caused some damage /
It was vacant.
The fire is under investigation, cause is undetermined - city PD and OSP have taken the lead on it and we are investigating it as well as a group Osp, TDP, State Fire Marshal, MCFRS
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