LEWISTON, ID – Lewiston police have arrested two homeless individuals in separate incidents involving third-degree arson. Both cases, occurring days apart, involved damage to public property.

Porta Potty Fire at Normal Hill Cemetery

On March 3, officers responded to a report of property damage at Normal Hill Cemetery. Upon arrival at the scene near 12th Avenue and 7th Street, police observed evidence of a fire inside a portable toilet. The urinal inside the structure was melted, and burn marks were visible along with charred pine needles and wood debris.

Surveillance footage obtained from nearby buildings captured a woman igniting the fire. Investigators identified the suspect as 37-year-old Amber Grimm, who is homeless and had been contacted by police earlier that day just a few blocks away. Footage showed her lighting the porta potty on fire multiple times before spending the night in a nearby truck.

Grimm was arrested and charged with third-degree arson.

Community Center Trash Can Fire

In a separate incident on March 7, police responded to a report of a fire at a community center on Main Street. According to authorities, a garbage can in front of the building was set ablaze at approximately 5:10 a.m. Surveillance footage showed a woman tearing up papers, placing them in the trash can, and igniting them with a lighter. She repeatedly added more paper and even blew on the flames before leaving the area.

The fire, which quickly grew, threatened nearby structures, including trees and a wooden sign. A sanitation worker used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames before firefighters arrived.

Later that day, officers located 60-year-old Dora Birch, who is homeless, sitting on a bench next to the burned trash can. She was wearing the same clothing seen in the surveillance footage and was found carrying a lighter. Birch was arrested and charged with third-degree arson.