Woman accused of setting porch ablaze appears in court

A woman accused of setting fire to a porch in Vancouver’s Rose Village neighborhood made a first appearance Wednesday in Clark County Superior Court.

Ashley S. Harper, 24, of Vancouver appeared to face an allegation of first-degree arson in connection with the Dec. 17 fire at 3307 U St.

Sasha Gibson called 911 at about 7:30 a.m. to report her house was being set on fire by Harper, whom she knows. Gibson said she heard a noise on the front porch, looked, and saw Harper holding a gas can over a fire in the middle of the porch, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.

When Gibson confronted her, Harper fled, leaving the gas can on the porch, the affidavit said.

A neighbor helped Gibson by pulling a large smoldering rug from the porch, court records said.

During her hearing, Judge Robert Lewis appointed an attorney for Harper and set her bail at $50,000.

The prosecution said that at the time of her arrest, Harper had an outstanding warrant stemming from a malicious mischief charge and alleged bail jumping.

Harper will be arraigned Jan. 7.