Wednesday night around 10 P.M MST a fire was reported in the backyard of a house near the 2200 block of West 18th street.

Firefighters with the Yuma Fire Department responded to the call to find a portion of the back fence, a picnic table, and a wheel barrel on fire.

The fire was quickly extinguished.

A few hours later, YFD was sent back to the same residence regarding a second fire, and officers arrived to find a gate on fire with flames spreading into the attached garage.

The fire was put out before it caused any significant damage to the home.

Fire officials determined that both fires were intentionally set. While the residents inside did not sustain any serious injuries, one woman was taken to Yuma Regional Medical Center for breathing difficulties, possibly related to smoke inhalation.

Officer Joe Franklin with the Yuma Police Department says arson is a serious crime, and those responsible face some serious charges.

“Arson is definitely a serious crime; it is a felony here in the state of Arizona,” says Franklin. It can cause severe damage to the residence (involved), and if not caught quickly enough it could possibly damage nearby residences. “