Crime & Safety
Former Collegeville Woman Sentenced For Setting Massive Fire
The convicted arsonist displaced more than a 100 of her neighbors in the massive blaze.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — A former Collegeville woman has been sentenced to prison for starting a massive fire at an apartment complex in Chester County in 2020 that injured several and left dozens of her neighbors without a home.
Toni Kirk, 33, will spend the next 10 to 20 years behind bars, according to court documents.
The incident occurred at 7:21 p.m. on July 30, 2020 at the Ashwood Apartments in North Coventry Township.
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Kirk's attorney, Stuart Crichton, said Kirk was abusing methamphetamine when she set the blaze in an apartment she shared with her boyfriend.
As a result of the fire, the building was destroyed, over 100 people lost their homes and personal belongings, and animals were trapped inside. Several victims suffered from smoke inhalation and othe injuries, and one woman suffered severe carbon monoxide poisoning that led to a coma.
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Police later said that Kirk was under the influence of drugs when she told them her ex-boyfriend set the fire. An investigation disclosed that the ex-boyfriend was not present on the property at the time of the fire.
The fire destroyed the entire 44-unit building.
With reporting from Patch correspondent Holly herman.
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