LAWRENCEVILLE, Pa. --
Police in Lawrenceville said a woman set her own home on fire so firefighters would unlock her door.
According to the criminal complaint, Lorean Simmons, 57, is accused of setting the awning of her home on fire Saturday night.
Channel 11 News obtained a copy of the criminal complaint. According to the document, she told police, "I wanted to burn my house so the fire department would respond and open my door."
She then told police, "Once I started the fire I did not want my house to burn all the way to the ground so I called the fire department," said the criminal complaint.
Investigators said because she lives in a row house that is connected to other homes, Simmons is charged with four counts of endangering other people, endangering property and risking a catastrophe.
Neighbors said they are glad firefighters were able to get the fire under control in a timely manner.
"Why would you light your house on fire?" said neighbor Jason Ciannella. "People do weird things, I guess. I'm glad it wasn't worse. You know, I just bought a house. I don't want to move again."
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