Teen to cops: “No idea why I started Walmart fire”

SPARTA, Wis. – A teenager accused of arson in a devastating fire at the Sparta Walmart store said she had a compulsive urge to set an artificial plant on fire in Aisles F25and F26. But why? Emma Smith, age 17, told investigators she has no idea. She acknowledged, however, that she was on meds and hadn’t taken her prescribed morning dosage. To her surprise, she said, the plant burst into flames. She walked on, checking out with the oatmeal and mayonnaise she had come to buy, and left the store. Within minutes, the 182,000-square foot store was filling with smoke. The store’s sprinkler system couldn’t keep up. Fire alarms sounded. Customers evacuated, all without injury.

Arrest and confession

From store video, police identified Smith as the arsonist. They tracked her home. She confessed. Authorities detailed her explanation in a criminal complaint. She said she was in the store to pick up a few grocery items. Ready to leave, she reached into a pocket for her telephone to call her mother to pick her up. In the pocket she felt a cigarette lighter and suddenly had  an impulse to light up a green leaf on a fake plant. Smith told investigators she had no reason.  She said he did not mean to start a fire and that the flames flared up faster than she expected.

Battling flames, smoke

Firefighters arrived at the store within one minute of the fjrst  call. They ran an attack line into the store and extinguished the fire. Once the flames were out, they began ventilating the building.  Firefighters remained pn scene 6-1/2 hours. Walmart said it can’t be sure when the store can be open again for business.

Earlier: Walmart fire was started in fabric section

Earlier: Walmart arson blamed on teen-ager

Earlier: Fire at Sparta Walmart: Smoke damage at $7 million

Smith. Bail set at $5,000. Charges: First-degree recklessly endangering safety, felony criminal damage to property, and disorderly conduct.