Oelwein Woman Arrested for Arson Following Three House Fires

An Oelwein woman has been arrested for arson following three house fires earlier this week.

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office says Oelwein Police and Fire Departments were called to a house fire early Tuesday morning around 2 am, with the caller reporting the house was fully engulfed in flames. 

Officers arrived and immediately began notifying neighboring residents to evacuate as the fire was spreading to nearby homes. The Oelwein Fire Department arrived on scene at 2:16 a.m. to observe one house almost completely destroyed by fire. A house to the south and a house to the west were also engulfed in flames. Fire crews were on scene for nearly five hours and throughout the day.

The fire was determined to be suspicious in nature, with officers continuing to investigate throughout the day. 50-year old Jeannie Marie Murphy of Oelwein was arrested and charged with First Degree Arson. Additional charges are pending and this case is still under investigation. 

“We are extremely grateful and proud of the collaborative efforts of all of the volunteer members of each fire department involved to protect the lives and property of those in our community and the efficient investigative work of our officers,” stated Public Safety Chief Jeremy Logan. “People that volunteer for a fire department are special people that are the heartbeat of those communities and we are fortunate to have them and the dedicated officers that serve us.”

The Oelwein Police and Fire Departments were assisted by the fire departments from Hazleton, Maynard, and Fairbank, as well as the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Fayette County Emergency Management, Oelwein MercyOne Ambulance, and the American Red Cross.

information and photos courtesy of Fayette County Sheriff’s Office