CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — 33-year-old Jessica Bullard is facing arson charges after setting a home on fire in Mathis that she and her boyfriend both lived in.
The fire took place in a rural part of town, and involved two buildings -- one home, and a shed that belonged to a neighboring house.
San Patricio Sheriff Oscar Rivera told 3NEWS that the fire could have been caused by a cigarette.
"Her and her boyfriend were fighting throughout the day and she said that he may have dropped a cigarette. And she didn’t pick it up," he said.
The home allegedly set on fire by Bullard was the first to burn. First responders said the fire then spread to the neighbor's house -- belonging to Barbara Farrier. She and her husband were out of town, getting the call from neighbors that their house was on fire.
"I just didn't care about anything but my pets," she said.
Farrier returned home to find her dog Jackson had died from the fire.
"Still had his shirt on that said, 'Mommy loves him,'" she said.
The Mathis Volunteer Fire Department, along with neighboring fire crews, responded. When they arrived, the buildings were completely engulfed in flames.
The fire reportedly took at least an hour to put out. Fire crews told 3NEWS that no one was injured.
Mathis Volunteer Fire Department Chief Adrian Ramirez said the fire was eventually contained after other departments arrived to help.
"We had a total of seven departments out here for this house," he said. "When we have fires in rural areas, the most important thing for us to get help from is one, manpower, two, water supply. There are no water hydrants or fire hydrants in the area."
Ramirez said six water tankers came to help, carrying thousands of gallons of water.
San Patricio County Fire Marshal Scott Marion said that the area departments were coordinative in how they handled the fire.
"We had a great response from all the neighboring departments. We recognized quick that it had exposed to the second house, and we were able to get that under control quickly to minimize the damage to that house. All while we were attacking the main house fire," he said.
After the flames were extinguished, Ferrier said the small building next to her house was destroyed and her kitchen in the main house had also burned. The small building was worth $12,000 -- containing about $20,000 worth of her husband's belongings. She plans to press charges against her neighbors but doesn't know how much she will get back from the loss.
"I don't know, I don't. We have insurance, but it won't bring my dog back," she said.
Riviera said arson carries a second-degree felony charge -- meaning Bullard could face up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He adds that Bullard is scheduled to go before a judge Friday morning.