A 38-year-old Lorain woman was charged with setting a fire to a house Oct. 20 on the west side of the city.
Amber Bodnar-Kurta is facing a charge of aggravated arson stemming from the blaze that destroyed the two-story residence at 529 Brownell Ave. and damaged the house at 537 Brownell Ave.
Bodnar-Kurta pleaded not guilty during her arraignment Oct. 22 in Lorain Municipal Court.
Lorain Municipal Judge Thomas Elwell Jr. will conduct a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. Oct. 29 to determine whether there is enough evidence for Bodnar-Kurta to stand trial.
Bodnar-Kurta has been in the Lorain County Jail since Oct. 21 on a $50,000 bond.
Thirty firefighters responded to put out the blaze, according to a Lorain Fire Department report.
As firefighters arrived, they began extinguishing the outside porch before they could enter the residence and search the two-story home, finding no one inside, the report stated.
The crews continued their attack on the fire eventually putting it out, the report stated.
Lorain Fire Department Lt. Ben Weber, who works in the fire prevention division, is urging people who rent to get insurance to insure their contents in the case of a fire.
Some policies could cost as little as $10 a month, Weber said.
“Renters insurance protects your property, your belongings,” he said. “Landlords have insurance that covers the house.
“If the house catches on fire … that house will be insured, but your belongings won’t be.”
Both renters and landlords need insurance, Weber said.
Residents at 537 Brownell Ave. didn’t have insurance, he said.
The Lorain Fire Department nonprofit All Call Charities donated $500 to help the family that lived at 537 Brownell.
The house to the north of 529 Brownell is vacant and is under renovation, Weber said.
Weber said he doesn’t believe an accelerant was used to start the fire.
However, the blaze was started in the right spot where there was plenty of oxygen, he said.
“That’s why it go so big so quickly,” Weber said.
Originally Published:
Alice J. Roden started working for Trending Insurance News at the end of 2021. Alice grew up in Salt Lake City, UT. A writer with a vast insurance industry background Alice has help with several of the biggest insurance companies. Before joining Trending Insurance News, Alice briefly worked as a freelance journalist for several radio stations. She covers home, renters and other property insurance stories.