Arson Suspect Linked to 18 Fires Held on $3 Million Bail

A 42-year-old old woman accused of intentionally setting a string of overnight fires spanning several miles in Tacoma, Washington, is being held on $3 million bail after her initial court appearance on Monday.

A Pierce County judge set the bail for Sarah Ramey, who faces six counts of arson, in addition to charges of possessing stolen property and identity theft, according to court records online.

Ramey was taken into custody by Tacoma police on Friday in connection with 18 fires she is accused of setting between late night Tuesday and early morning Wednesday last week, according to KOMO News.

Police said on Friday that detectives had identified a suspect in connection with the string of fires set in the city south of Seattle and had taken her into custody without incident.

"The Tacoma Police Department would like to thank the [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives] special agents who assisted in canvassing the areas of the fires and the community's response in providing information and surveillance video regarding these crimes," police said in a statement.

Ramey is being lodged in Pierce County Corrections. It's not clear if the accused is being represented by an attorney. Newsweek has reached out to the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for comment.

The fires broke out in residential areas in the central and north ends of Tacoma as well as the nearby town of Ruston. Crews were initially dispatched to respond to three fires within a mile of each other earlier Tuesday evening before responding to another grouping early Wednesday morning.

While the fires didn't cause any injuries or deaths and were described as relatively minor at the time, authorities were alarmed that most of them occurred in structures that were occupied. One larger fire gutted a two-story house.

Tacoma police referred Newsweek to local prosecutors for additional details on how many fires Ramey is suspected of setting.

The city's police department sent extra patrols to the streets following the fires, urging residents to trim shrubbery and remove materials that could be used to start a blaze. Federal agents were also brought in to assist with the investigation.

Ramey is expected to make another court appearance where she could be charged with eight counts of first-degree arson, reports KOMO. Prosecutors have not disclosed a motive and are currently gathering evidence, the station reports.

Online Court records show the defendant also faces a warrant from failing to appear for an earlier charge of driving while her license was suspended or revoked.