Passaic County authorities are reporting that Ms. Ahkearah Muhammad, 24, of Paterson, is charged with two counts of second-degree Aggravated Arson in relation to an investigation that began on the evening of March 20.
Officials said at approximately 10:35 p.m., police and fire personnel responded to a report of a fire at 55 Madison Street.
When firefighters arrived, they found the structure -an apartment complex with 240 individual apartments- investigators found that the fire had started in front of an apartment leased to Ms. Muhammad’s former acquaintance.
Officials said the fire was extinguished by another resident and did not cause any injuries, nor was the resident displaced. Ms. Muhammad was identified on surveillance video starting the fire using lighter fluid in a bottle which was recovered at the scene.
No arrest has been made, and Ms. Muhammad remains a fugitive at this time. She is considered to be dangerous.