Illinois woman charged with setting porch on fire in southwest Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS — Police arrested an Illinois woman Tuesday in connection with a fire that occurred in April at a residence in southwest Cedar Rapids.

Court documents show Nola L. Wardell, 51, of Calumet City, Ill., faces a charge of first-degree arson.

According to the criminal complaint, firefighters were dispatched April 8 to a home at 348 Seventh Ave. SW.

When they arrived, firefighters found a fire on the front porch and extinguished it.

Authorities said the home’s video surveillance showed Wardell walking on to the front porch and spraying ignitable liquid onto a front window and setting it ablaze.

The video footage also showed Wardell attempting to disable the video recording system, authorities said.

Wardell was booked into the Linn County Jail on Tuesday. Jail records indicate she is being held on a $20,000 bond.

Comments: (319) 398-8238; kat.russell@thegazette.com.