A woman named Kathryn Frankel has been charged with arson following a fire that occurred on New Year's Day in Spring Garden Township, York County, Pennsylvania. Authorities say the fire began in the basement of a duplex on North Ogontz Street, where Frankel, 43, had been living for about a month. According to court records, Frankel admitted to using a heat gun shortly before the fire started. Witnesses reported that she acted suspiciously and attempted to prevent others from entering the basement after the fire began.
The blaze resulted in the rescue of several residents, with one person being hospitalized for smoke inhalation. A firefighter also sustained minor injuries during the rescue operation. Investigators discovered seven aerosol cans and a can of lighter fluid near the fire's origin, along with a heat gun plugged into an extension cord. The homeowner stated that the aerosol cans were usually stored in a different area and that there was no valid reason for a heat gun to be used in the basement.
Frankel was charged with arson, causing a catastrophe, and recklessly endangering another person. She is currently being held at York County Prison with bail set at $25,000. Frankel was already out on bail for a previous arson charge related to a fire at her historic home in Berwyn, Chester County, in July 2024. Her trial for that case is scheduled for February.
