Arson Blamed for $100k Worth of Damage in Burnsville Fire
BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA - Just after 2:30 PM on Saturday, October 28, 2023, the Burnsville Fire Department, with mutual aid from the Eagan Fire Department, was dispatched to the 400 block of Timberland Drive in Burnsville Drive for a reported fire in the basement of the home. When the initial units arrived, they confirmed a working fire in the home's basement, and the decision to take an offensive attack on the fire was made.
At around 2:50 PM, fire personnel reported they were able to get the fire under control, but they were seeing an extension of the fire into the ceiling of the basement. The fire was reported to be knocked down at around 2:57 PM. Crews continued to search the home and check for additional hot spots. At around 3:22 PM, crews checked the attic, and no extension was found. The fire was officially marked as out by around 3:22 PM.
According to the criminal complaint from the Dakota County Attorney’s Office, a member of the home reported to both officers of the Burnsville Fire Department and Police Department that their sister-in-law had threatened to burn the house down before this incident occurred. They stated the sister-in-law was seen quickly leaving the residence just before the fire was found in the home. According to a family member, the sister-in-law was in the basement just before the fire occurred.
A fire investigation was done after fire crews extinguished the fire and ventilated the residence for investigators. Through their investigation, they were able to eliminate accidental and natural causes of the fire. They determined the fire was started in the basement of the home, where a large pile of clothing and other debris was found, along with torn-up pages of paper scattered on top of the pile.
The sister-in-law, who was later identified as Andrea Tupa, was found to have a lighter and burnt match when she was arrested. She was charged with Arson in the 1st Degree (Dwelling), which comes with a sentence of 0-20 years and/or a fine of $6,000 to $20,000.
According to the criminal complaint, the fire caused more than $100,000 of damage to the home. Criminal records from Dakota County Jail show that Ms. Tupa remains in jail and is on hold for Mahnomen County Sheriff, with a $10,000 bond or $1,000 cash for a charge of 3rd Degree drug possession and 3rd Degree property Damage. We have reached out to the Mahnomen County Sheriff for more information on these charges and will update this story if and when they provide us with more information.
