CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- Investigators call the fire Sunday night in Chesterfield suspicious, but say they really can't do much more in the investigation until they're able to talk to the victim, now identified as 35-year-old Nya Reynolds.
She's in intensive care at VCU Medical Center.
A giant ball of fire is how neighbors described what they saw that night behind a home on Sherri Lane in Chester.
"Smoke was just pouring out of the second-story windows," said Carol Spickerman, who lives across the street.
Chesterfield firefighters say when they arrived on scene the home was fully involved. Reynolds was inside according to her father, and paramedics rushed her to VCU Medical Center, where she was listed in serious but stable condition.
"It's now deemed suspicious by our fire marshal's office and by the Chesterfield Police," said Lt. Jason Elmore.
Sources say after an arson dog was on scene for hours, investigators were able to determine that the fire was most likely set and ignited near the back porch area of the home.
The fire marshal interviewed several neighbors, but still needs information.
Some of the crucial information will eventually come from the victim.
"We'd like to speak with the woman that was in there, but unfortunately with her condition, they're not able to right now," said Elmore.
When told that investigators are calling the fire suspicious, some people who've called the community home for decades are concerned.
"There's been some crime in the area, but to hear someone set fire to this home is scary," said Spickerman.
The Fire Marshal's Office is asking if you saw anyone acting suspiciously in the 13200 block of Sherri on Sunday night, to call their office at 804-748-1426.
