TARENTUM, Pa. -- Police in Allegheny County said they've arrested a woman in connection with a Tarentum arson case that sent her and her two children to a hospital.
Emergency crews rescued Terra Lynn, her 11-year-old daughter, Alexis, and her 8-year-old son, Tyler, from a burning duplex in the 1100 block of Bakerstown Road early Monday morning.
Watch Tara Edwards' ReportThe family was first taken to Alle-Kiski Medical Center before being transferred to West Penn Hospital for smoke inhalation.
Fire investigators said it appeared the fire started in a basement and that the family was in an upstairs hallway when the flames started.
"I hear the kid screaming upstairs and I looked at the stairwell (and) there were flames. The kids actually jumped onto me. I pulled the mother out at the same time I pulled all of them out," Summit Hose Assistant Fire Chief Michael Remper said.
On Tuesday, police announced they arrested Lynn, 36, in connection with an arson investigation stemming from the fire.
Allegheny County police Lt. Jeffrey Korczyk said it was Lynn’s own words and behavior before being rushed to the hospital that tipped investigators.
“Remorseful-type comments, and then eventually when we spoke to her, she did make admissions to spreading the gasoline around,” said Korczyk.
Police said they suspect Lynn’s motive for setting the fire was sparked by her being upset over a divorce. Investigators said her clothes reeked of the accelerant suspected in the fire.
Korczyk said investigators believe Lynn was trying to kill herself and her kids.
“We surmised that -- yes -- because after the started, she remained with the children in the home,” said Korczyk.
Annie Mason said her daughter is good friends with one of the children rescued from this burning home. She struggles to explain what police say happened.
"I can't imagine somebody doing something like that," she said.
Team 4 uncovered court papers in which her husband, Brian Lynn, describes disputes over child custody and visitation. His petition states he previously had to get a protection from abuse order against his wife.
In addition to being charged with setting the fire, Terra Lynn has also been charged with endangering her children and the firefighters who rescued them.
“In the back of my head, I kept thinking about my own kids. What would I do? I put my like on the line like anybody else would do," Remper said.
There was also someone who lived in the basement. Officials said the children will be OK.
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