MA Arson Suspect Claims 'The Devil' Made Her Set Fire to 'Haunted' House

Rick Sobey

Boston Herald

(TNS)

A Dorchester woman accused of arson says “the devil” made her light the “haunted” house on fire Tuesday, which then led to Boston firefighters rescuing several residents from the heavy blaze.

Nikia Rivera, 45, has been charged with arson of a dwelling following the two-alarm fire at 74 Mora St., in Dorchester, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

“I’m sorry, I had to do it,” Rivera told a witness to the fire, who relayed the conversation to Boston police officers.

Rivera then left the scene on foot.

Officers later caught up with Rivera, and she told them, “I had to do it. That house is haunted. I lit the house on fire.”

She further told booking officers, “The devil made me do it. There are ghosts in my house.”

The three-story wood frame had fire on all of the floors. Several residents were rescued by Boston firefighters.

“It’s fortunate that this woman’s actions did not result in any residents or responders being seriously injured or killed,” Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden said. “Her statements are obviously disturbing and an immediate evaluation is the proper next step.”

A judge in Dorchester court ordered that Rivera undergo an evaluation at Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital, a state Department of Mental Health facility. Rivera will return to court on Jan. 13.

Also developing in fire related news, officials on Tuesday said  a Malden blaze that injured two firefighters was caused by improper use of an extension cord.

Nine people were displaced in the Monday night fire on John Street taht reached 3-alarms.

“We’re extremely relieved that the two injured firefighters are recovering and that none of the residents were hurt or worse,” said Malden Fire Chief William Sullivan.

“This fire started with an indoor extension cord that was run through a window along the outside of the home, where it ignited the building’s exterior,” he added. “If you must use an extension cord outside, be sure it’s rated for outdoor use and keep it away from water, snow, and ice.”

North of Boston, state officials said a fire in Haverhill that destroyed a home on the Merrimack River was caused by improper disposal of smoking materials.

That  two-alarm fire on Coffin Avenue was was sparked after an ashtray was emptied into household trash in a screened-in hot tub room on the ground floor of the home. Combustible materials ignited, and the fire spread. The home is a total loss, but no injuries were reported.

“This is a pattern firefighters see too often in Haverhill and all across Massachusetts,” said Haverhill Fire Chief Robert O’Brien. “Cigarettes and other smoking materials can smolder undetected in an ashtray and ignite other materials when thrown in the trash, out a window, or off a porch. If you smoke or have guests who do, be sure to put it out, all the way, every time.”

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