Police Arrest Woman, Say Rhinebeck Fire Was Intentional

Police say a fire that destroyed a building at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck on Sunday was intentionally set and a woman has been arrested.

According to the Daily Freeman, Tracy Piwowarczyk from Piscataway, New Jersey was arrested two hours after the fire started, around 8:45 on Sunday morning. Piwowarczyk was charged by police with three felony counts of reckless endangerment and one felony count of arson.

Police say that three people were inside the cabin when the fire erupted. They claim that Piwowarczyk knew there were people inside when she started the blaze. The cabins at the Omega Institute are currently being occupied by seasonal employees. They work during the summer months and finish up at the end of October.

Luckily, all of the smoke alarms and other safety precautions were working and the fire was quickly contained without any fatalities. The two-alarm fire was extinguished within 30 minutes. The cabin involved with the incident was completely destroyed and the exterior wall of an adjacent cabin was damaged.