Arson ruled as cause of Spencer fire

Photo by Randy M. Cauthron Emergency crews were called at 12:03 p.m. Sunday to 209 West Park Street in Spencer for a house fire. Investigators now believe the fire was intentionally started. [Order this photo]

A Spencer woman faces first-degree arson charges after allegedly starting a fire at the house where her daughter lived.

Brenda Heilstedt was booked into the Clay County Jail on a Class B felony after a fire broke out at 12:03 p.m. Sunday at 209 West Park Street in Spencer. When firefighters arrived, smoke and flames were venting out of the first floor east windows and the south front window.

Heilstedt's daughter, Ashley Handy, lived at the house.

"Spencer Police were called to a disturbance there roughly an hour prior to that," Spencer Police Chief Mark Lawson said. "The disturbance was strictly verbal. The daughter and the boyfriend left and the next time the police were called there was when the fire started."

The siding on a neighboring house to the east was also melting and catching fire.

Firefighters stopped it from burning, then took an aggressive approach to the interior of the main house fire. Their efforts kept the fire contained to the living room of the home.

"An investigation into the cause of the fire was conducted by the Spencer Police Department, Spencer Fire Department and the Iowa State Fire Marshals Office," a statement from Spencer Fire Chief Doug Duncan said. "The cause for this fire was ruled arson."

Heilstedt is the owner of her daughter's home. The incident remains under investigation.