Woman accused of setting cars and items on fire throughout Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – The Memphis Fire Department is investigating multiple fires that are believed to have been intentionally set Monday morning.

Laquita Huffman, 35, is in custody accused of starting at least three separate fires in Midtown.

The first fire occurred at 659 Philadelphia Street, where nine minivans were set on fire, causing $34,000 in building and vehicle damage.

A man who lives nearby said he thought a bomb had exploded.

“I guess it was like four in the morning and it sounded like we were getting bombed, man, and it sounded like someone was celebrating for a minute and then it just kept happening. I thought something was wrong,” he said.

Huffman is also accused of setting fire to three cars at the Kimbrough Towers Apartments on Union Avenue in Midtown.

These fires were started in the parking garage.

Just a few doors down on Union Avenue, a car still sits in pieces outside the PakMail store.

Huffman is also accused of attempting to set fire to a gas pump at United Food and Fuel at 2264 Union Avenue.

She allegedly ran before police arrived, only to set another fire behind Nandwani's Tailors at 2300 Union Avenue.

Officers at the scene searched the area and reportedly found Huffman setting fire to a white towel and a wooden fence between Monroe Avenue and Madison Avenue.

She was finally arrested there.

Huffman is due in court Tuesday morning.

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