A weekend apartment fire ignited a police investigation, which led to a Butler woman being accused of starting the blaze.

Rebecca L. Allison, 58, was charged by city police with felonies arson, risking catastrophe and misdemeanor reckless endangerment following an incident around 2 a.m. Friday.

Allison was placed in Butler County prison in lieu of $250,000 bond.

According to police, residents evacuated an apartment complex on East Wayne Street due to fire alarms going off. No injuries were reported.

While on scene, police said a resident of the apartment complex told them that several days prior, she heard Allison threaten to burn the building.

“(The witness) stated that her neighbor across the hall, later identified as Allison, had several days prior stated ‘If these people don’t stop messing with me I’ll catch this whole building on fire,’” the investigating officer said.

The witness also said once Allison saw her, she said she was kidding about the threat.

Allison was not in her apartment at the time of the fire and was not on scene.

Allison’s last contact had been with her mother at 8:57 p.m., according to charging documents. Police said Allison’s mother revealed via phone call that she was concerned, since her daughter had previously burned an apartment in El Paso, Texas.

At 10:30 a.m. Friday, the state police fire marshal determined the origin of the fire in Allison’s apartment. Police said matches started the blaze in a trashcan between the stove and sink. The matches were discovered on the kitchen table in Allison’s apartment. According to police, the microwave melted due to heat from the fire and there was excessive smoke damage.

Another witness reported to police he saw the fire through an open door and attempted to douse the flames. Meanwhile, he watched someone exit the building on the ground floor. The witness said the woman walked away from the building and put her hood up.

Police said security footage determined that the woman leaving the building was Allison. She traveled from the building on foot at 1:59 a.m. Friday.

According to the affidavit, Allison was found at 7:57 p.m. that night, in the same clothes she was seen in on surveillance footage.