Woman says she started fire at stranger's house after seeing a sign saying 'witches welcome'

A woman said she set fire to a stranger's porch because she is a witch and saw a sign at the house that said "witches welcome."

Michelle Young, 46, was arrested on Tuesday, March 19, after she allegedly started a fire on the porch of a house in Burlington, Iowa. Emergency services rushed to the scene at around 4.30pm, after the homeowner told police she saw her setting something ablaze on the security camera, with smoke also visible in the footage.

Police found Young upon arrival at the house, who admitted to starting the fire. According to an affidavit filed in Des Moines County Court, Young said she thought a friend of hers lived in the house.

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She also told police that she saw a sign near the house that read "Witches Welcome," and that she herself was a witch, so she started a fire. The homeowner told police she did not know Young and had never seen her before.

According to an affidavit seen by KWQC, Young had been lingering in the area for approximately two hours before the incident, collecting various items including a car's taillight, tin foil, bark, and a yellow lawn flag.

The 46-year-old woman also told police she tried to contact her "friend" by knocking on the door three times. Young said she then sat down on a chair on the porch and smoked a cigarette.

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She then knocked again and, when she didn’t get an answer, she lit the items she had with her on fire. She said she also put clothing in the fire, according to the affidavit.

Thankfully, no one was injured in the incident. The fire reportedly caused limited damage to the house's porch, authorities said.

Young has been charged with reckless use of fire/explosives/destructive devices, classified as a serious misdemeanour, along with possession of drug paraphernalia, classified as a simple misdemeanour.

Her bond was set at $5,000 cash-only during a court appearance on Wednesday, March 20, and a preliminary hearing for her case is scheduled for March 29. The Burlington Police Department released a mugshot of Young with a wide smile, indicating her potentially vulnerable state and confusion.