Saint Albans, WV- On Wednesday, May 3, 2023, Lakewood Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire incident where multiple vehicles and buildings caught fire in the River Park Circle area of Saint Albans. Metro 911 initially received a report of a single vehicle on fire around 1:25 a.m. The vehicle was parked close to a residential dwelling and within minutes, fire had claimed devastation to three other vehicles, another residence, and an outbuilding.
Multiple fire departments including Saint Albans Fire Department, Tornado Volunteer Fire Department, and West Side Volunteer Fire Department were called to assist Lakewood VFD. Fire Department members identified a suspicious female at the scene as a possible suspect and called for law enforcement’s assistance.
Kanawha County Sheriff’s Deputy M.A. Dingess responded to the scene and located 54-year-old, Donna L. Hall, of Lower Falls Road in Saint Albans. Hall was not a resident of the River Park Circle area and fire crews had placed her in the immediate vicinity where the fires began. Deputies determined that Hall had been inside of a red Jaguar prior to the fire beginning and fire personnel advised the initial fire started inside that same Jaguar. Hall was found to be on the porch of one of the residences prior to it catching fire and she was found to be in possession of fire producing materials. Hall had markings on her hands consistent with fire ash and deputies believe she was under the influence of an impairing substance.
Hall was placed under arrest for three counts of 1st degree Arson and four counts of 3rd degree Arson. She is currently being held at South Central Regional Jail on a $10,000 cash bond. Property damage estimates are expected to exceed $319,000.00.
This investigation is currently still active, and we urge anyone who has surveillance video or information regarding this case to please contact the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office immediately.
Should you have any information regarding this case, please contact Deputy M.A. Dingess at Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, 304-357-0169 or submit a “tip” at www.kanawhasheriff.us under the “Tips” tab.
Post expires at 12:43pm on Friday November 3rd, 2023