In December 2023, the day just after Christmas, first responders figured it was just another day at work until they were about to be dispatched to a massive building fire in Sparta, Wisconsin. A female had made a trip to Walmart with a simple task in mind to pick up oatmeal and mayonnaise. After quickly finding the item she needed, she decided to take a detour through the aisles, casually browsing items that caught her attention. She soon found herself drawn toward the craft and fabric section, an area she often frequented for art supplies and materials. While browsing some art folders, she reached into her pocket to call her mom. Instead of finding her phone, she felt a lighter and in a moment of impulse took it out and lit an artificial plant nearby. Not realizing how quickly the fire would spread, she panicked and hurried out of the area without telling anyone what had happened. During the store's evacuation, she took out her phone and quickly recorded the fire burning in the craft aisle, yelling for people to leave. What the Everybody, everyone move from the area. Everyone move from the area. What began as a quick errand for oatmeal and mayonnaise soon turned into a $7.6 million disaster. Get over. Upon arriving, the officer observed several people evacuating the building and quickly retrieved his fire extinguisher. [Applause] Get everybody out. Come on. We got heavy smoke. [Applause] During the quick sweep of the store, they noticed thick smoke pouring from an area near the center of the building, making the fire's location seem suspicious. Let's just go. I'm not worried about people. Are they out? I don't [Music] know. The sprinklers here. Ethan. Ethan. Oh, Jesus. You're all right. I'm just sleeping. Make sure everybody out. I think everybody Yeah. Okay. You get out. Just get out. Yes, sir. Just let it go. I'll grab this section. I'm going to go down and I'll go that way. Yeah. Automotive. All [Applause] right. 457, can you copy? Make sure everybody's out. 48. Go ahead. I'm helping them sleep here. Yeah, I'm in here with you. I got the grocery cleared except for the far west aisle. I cleared the back. I told everybody to get out. Yeah. Where the is it? It's in the craft section, but uh 30. Are you 102? He needs to get out of there. That boy loves running into smoke. Took that. He went in that way. I think Lawrence got everybody out. I think everyone's out. Ethan. Ethan. Ethan, there's some sort of a sprinklers. Sprinklers are going. Yeah, there's water. Yeah, badger, buddy. What was that? There in the back room. I went through the back. Everybody was going out back. You You should head outside, Ty. Okay. Oh, it's nice down here. and employ. I went through the back. There was some guys and I tell everybody's out. So I was yelling. I don't know where Ethan is, but Ethan was just on the radio. He was all right. We should not be in that thick anymore. I don't think we get double check. Yeah. Get everybody away from the front, too, cuz they're going to be coming in hot. I think that's some dumb kid for this. I told you, Sarge. I told you. I told you. Okay. Come on. Yeah. It's going. It's got to be going in there. Look at that. Yeah. [Applause] Here. Oh, yeah. She's rolling somewhere down here. Yep. Got should get some doors p like wedged open. The hell's the difference? [Applause] It's a fire exit. Badger. Don't even think about it. Clear out that crowd in front. Yeah. Wish we could get some doors wedged open. I don't know if that's yours. It feels like it's getting warm in here. And I think that sprinkler system would be that stuff for getting all this stuff out of the way for this fire. Oh yeah, it is getting warm down here. Oh yeah, they got everybody away from the front when they come screaming in. No, that's what he's telling Ethan to do. This ain't good, boss. This ain't good. I'm going to grab my car and park in front of these doors here. Okay. I couldn't get too much searching done. No, it got it's getting worse in there. It's just going to lead off the train. You want to take your block off that driveway? Ah, never mind. But stop coming in. Yeah, block one lane off. You guys have the slightest clue what started it. We'll probably want to pull footage and make sure some kids are doing something stupid in there. I guess we definitely will. Well, like where it's like where it like busted the most was like where where we have artificial floral is really combustible. Yeah. My fear is that some some kids did something stupid and you know kind of worst case. Yeah. I mean impossible. All right. That's all you got. That's it. Need help dragging anything anywhere? Right there. Bring it right there. Bring it there. [Applause] Getting warm in here. [Applause] You want to flush it first? Nope. No, I'll be all right. Come on. It's been a while, but I can still do it. There's no injuries out here, so we're good. Okay. During the fire, 78 employees and 165 customers were inside, but thankfully, no one was injured. However, in different situations, others may not be as fortunate when they unexpectedly become victims. Seriously injured in an accident, medical bills piling up, insurance companies often give you the runaround. It's a nightmare scenario too many face. Fighting insurers alone can be frustrating. Lowball offers, endless paperwork, and delays. You deserve better. That's where today's sponsor, Morgan and Morgan, comes in. As America's largest personal injury law firm, Morgan and Morgan, has over 100 offices and 1,000 dedicated lawyers, all working to make sure you get the compensation you deserve if you become their client. With over $20 billion recovered and three million clients helped, their track record speaks for itself. 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Yeah, I'll leave this buddy. this deal. Which one? Where is Mike? You see that? I made a hydra. It's been a while. You're getting You're getting freaking tracking, man. Anybody knowing? No. Sounds like they're all yelling on the radio. So, the guys out here can't understand what I'm saying. Are you going to need like any more room here for more trucks or anything? Um I wonder if there's going to be as far as he knew. Yeah. Yeah. Like fake flowers and stuff. Yeah. Where is he? I don't know. Everybody's radio. I know. Hey, so our radio is not working. I think it's every just yours, dude. Yeah. So, probably something to do with the building. The engine ones in there. I open those doors down there. The main entrance ones. Yeah. There's there's a fire fire exit against that that uh west east wall. If you pop that open, that thinks that's the closest one to the source of it. Yeah. You want me to try and take in? You can't do anything. You can't go in the building. Back off, Amy. What are you doing? To get you some camera coverage. We'll get it. They got it knocked down. Worst case scenario, this is dumb kids. After the fire was contained, police spoke with Sparta area fire chief who noted that the fire seemed sus and requested a review of the security footage. Review the cameras. I'd be real curious to see. I am too. when I got here was the location of it and Jake said that like something's wrong in the middle of the store. There's there's there's nothing combustible in that uh uh alley that aisle in that fabric section as far as anything that would ignited it. I think either somebody put something in there, flipped something in there so you know get it as slow as you can get it. Yeah, that's our plan as soon as we can get in that we're going to go see. Officers then contacted an asset protection employee to access the surveillance cameras. While reviewing the footage, they observed the suspect igniting the fire before casually walking around to assess the situation. She was later seen standing outside the store among other customers, appearing anxious and uncertain about where to go. Eventually, she made her way to a blue SUV, watching the shitfest unfold before driving off shortly after first responders arrived. A clear image of her face was captured from the security footage. This photo was then forwarded to another officer who was able to positively identify her as 17-year-old Emma Smith using a school ID photo. There's a fire right there. Yeah, Christ. This person seems like they're acting off. Looks back. There's smoke right there. Well, bingo. It almost looks like he's got they're wearing like one of those bomber hats. Was that him? I think so. I think that's him right there. right there. Yep. Yeah. He's backing up just a little bit. See right here by this guy. He's on just behind him. He's tucking up. Yep. There he is. It looked like he had his phone out like he was taking a video. I could have been on. See if Ericson can reach out to some of his head kids and check their Snapchat feed. Yep. Right there. That's an Oh [ __ ] Look, if I've ever seen one. You ain't a kid. Oh boy. What did I do? Definitely looks like a female. It's a female. Probably should refer this to school resource. Got a video of it from inside. Really? Who is it? Way after. Holy moly Smith from Street. Total box right now is just over 7.6 million. I mean, it's it's going to be a total loss. I don't know what's going to be saved. Like for certain. All of apparel is gone, right? That's gone. Any of the food sitting out is gone. Anything where sprinklers hit is gone. So rough rough estimate right now we're 7.6 bill. We're saying the value in the box currently. fire chief. He sounds like he might be contacting DCI, so we might have to secure the building and tape it off for a crime scene. So, I'm going to be letting you know in a couple minutes. [Music] Shutting the building down. It's nobody's going anywhere till DCI gets here in a couple hours. They're on their way from Madison now. So, this is now a crime scene we're considering. Okay. All right. Approximately 4 hours after the fire, police visited the address on file and saw the same blue SUV from the security footage parked outside. Hello. Hi. I'm Detective Bray. Is Emma home? Yes. This is Sergeant Lotus. Can we speak to her? Okay. What she do? We will sit down and talk to you about it. We'd like to have her down here. Fire. Yeah. Did she tell you about it? She told me she was there shopping. Okay. If she can come down, we'd like to talk to her. Um, she the one that started it. Um, she's a poss possibility. Yeah. As Emma came downstairs to see who was there. She likely realized she was in deep [ __ ] Hi. Hi. Can you come down and chat with us for a second? Yeah. You want to have a seat? I'm Detective Brad. This is Sergeant Labus. Were you Were you at Walmart today? Okay. What did you go to Walmart for? Oatmeal and mayo. Oatmeal and mayo. Okay. Did you go with anybody? No. You seem a little nervous. What's going on? Because it scared me genuinely. She did. Panic. What? What scared you? The fire. Okay. Where were you at when you saw it? I was walking. I was ready to go check out and I was in the lady's bra section and then someone was saying, "Oh, there's a fire." And then I saw it. It started breaching the ceiling and then I said, "Everyone move away. Fire, fire, fire." I have a video if you want to see. Okay. Well, Walmart has a lot of video cameras that a lot of them that pretty much cover the entire store. Said that some people Okay. So, did you get your oatmeal in mail? So I got him from Hansen. So why were you over in the bras if you went there to get oatmeal and mayo? Because when I was going to check out and Did you have oatmeal and mayo in your hands? Mhm. And then I set it down right where the refrigerator was in the selfch checkckout aisle. There was one where it's not in there, but it's like right outside of it. and I put it there and then I walked out. Okay. When you were Why were you going through like the bra the section with the bras and stuff? I always take a shortcut and plus I read on my hand that I needed socks. Okay. I know you got some for me, but I usually like to wear black socks and so I was going to get those. I didn't cuz you know that happened. Okay. Were you anywhere else in the store? Where would that have been? I was looking at art bags in the art supply section. Okay. What else was in that aisle? What do you mean? What other items were in the aisle that you were in? Markers, sticky notes, just it was just typical art stuff. Okay. Were you in any other aisles? I was in that aisle where it happened. But what aisle is that? That was the art section where the paints and stuff were. Okay. How do you know what happened there? Because I saw it when I How would you be able to see it? Because everyone was turning and pointing and How would you able to see what the aisle? Because when I was walking away, the art bag section, it was on this side, not the other side by the clothes. It was near where you would find home stuff. I was looking at the art section and then I was going to walk away and then I went in the fabric section to the socks and the bras and then that's when someone said, "Oh my god, look, there's a fire." And that's when I turned around. And I made the stupid decision to just stay and videotape it instead of leaving. And I watched it over multiple times. And it's pretty clear to me that it was in that section. Okay. Did you see anybody else in the section where fabrics were and stuff like that? No, nobody else was in there. There was an old lady, I think, with her family and they were near it. And then this other person that I was standing near was saying, "Everyone move from the area." And then I started shouting that, too. And you can see it in the video. Do you have the video? Mhm. You still have it? Mhm. Can I come with you? Sure. So, she's on camera walking out of the aisle like moments before the fire starts. And nobody else is in the aisle. Not that we can see. And nobody exits the aisle from either side. And her demeanor coming in and leaving are very different. What the Everybody Everyone move from the area. That's me shouting that everyone from the area. There was nobody else in the aisle with the fabrics and stuff when you were down there except for an old lady and her family I would presume and then everyone that's when everyone started walking out the door and I followed with that. Okay. So, do you remember where you were right before people started saying there was a fire? I was walking where those home items were. I was walking out of that aisle after I was done looking at beads and stuff. Okay. And then that's when I went to go look at the art bags in the other section. And then I walked out, went near this other old lady who was shopping. And then, you know, I was wearing my hat. So, I don't know if I missed it or something, but I was walking in the fabric area and then I felt like some kind of heat a little bit and that's when I went to the bra section, but no one else was around me. Everyone was just shopping and everything and and you felt heat how long after you left that aisle? Just like a split second. And then why is that? That's when I saw all the smoke and everything. And when But no one else was in the aisle and then you felt the heat. Okay. So, I think it's time for you to be honest with us at this point. What do you mean? Okay. So, Emma, there's the the footage shows you leave the aisle where the fire started moments before the smoke starts rising up from the shelf and your behavior when you walk out of that aisle. You're you're obviously you're paying attention to what's happening down there. Um, you can see your head turning and like looking down there several times because I'm usually paranoid about people following me. Okay. I do have moments where I get overly paranoid and it makes me act erratically and she can back that up and I'm sorry. I can understand that. And and I'm not I'm not saying that, you know, you're you're this bad person who's trying to hurt anyone or anything like that, but the the footage shows you coming out of where that fire started. I know. And you're the only one there. And as soon as you leave, we follow you all the way through the store. And I mean, you're you're trying to cover your face when you're walking out of the door. No, I was in a panic doing this. Okay. What What did you start it with? I didn't have anything. You can check my whole room, my whole body, person, everything. I don't have anything. I'm not asking you if you have anything. I'm asking you what you started it with. I didn't start it with anything. We need you to be honest. Okay, there's lots of footage. You're clearly in a panic right now. So, what did you start? This the the state crime inspectors are coming to check the fire and they're going to be able to tell us exactly how it happened. Like, not like it maybe happened this way or it maybe happened that way. What did you say? My lighter. What? Where's the lighter at now? It's in Where's the lighter at now? Emma, where's the lighter at? It's in the kitchen. Where? I don't want you to touch it. I want you to tell me where it's at. What's going to happen to me? Please tell me. Tell me where the lighter is. I just I Emma, this is a felony. That's That's the short stick of it. I didn't mean to do it. I'm sorry. I really wasn't thinking. I don't take my meds today and I'm impulsive. Calm down. Where's the lighter at? It's in the kitchen. When you walk in, there's like a cabinet right here. There's a garbage to the refrigerator first. Okay. I'm going to walk you over there and I want you to show me where it's at. Okay? I don't want you to touch it. Okay? So, let's go grab it. Don't touch it. Just show me where it's at. Which one is it? Green. The green one. Is she going to get arrested for this? I'm going to go to jail. Please be honest with me. I come back over here. We're not done yet. So, what what did you start? H what what did you start on fire? I just What did you like? I lit one of the leaves of the fake plants and I just I really didn't mean to. What do you mean? Explain that to me. Help me understand. Because I wasn't thinking about anything that could have happened at the end. I didn't even think about that. I was And I feel really guilty. But I really don't want to go to jail. Seriously, you could have hurt somebody. I don't understand the gravity of the situation. No, I do. I do now and I'm really just help me understand. Calm down. Take a break. I don't want to kill myself. You're not going to calm down. Emma, why did you start the leaf on fire? Let's Let's start with that. Just take two breaths and explain to me why you did that. I don't know. I don't know why I did it. Okay. I just Do you like fire or what? What? I do. I just I couldn't help myself. I mean, I could I don't know. I just wasn't thinking straight. And so, what what did you want the outcome to be? I thought it would just die out. Did you I swear did you see it start to burn more than you expected? And is that when you walked away from it? I started to panic and I felt really bad. Have you ever had other fires like controlled ones before? just in my own room. But okay, I swear I'm I just I don't know. What do you burn in your room sometimes? Paper. Just pieces of paper up in your room. Not often, but just I my intention was to just go to Walmart and get the oatmeal and mayonnaise and just walk out. But I got distracted cuz I wanted to, you know, get a container of some sort in the beads aisle. But then when I was searching around my pocket to see, you know, just to ask my mom something, um, that's when I felt the lighter and I did that was just Why did you have a Do you smoke? I You smoke cigarettes or why? No, I Where did that Where did this green lighter come from? It was in my room already for months on end already. And when I put on my pants, it was already in there because okay, I probably forgot it in the dryer when I was washing my pants. I don't know why I carry it, but it's not cigarettes, but I used to smoke weed. But that stopped, too. Okay. Why did you put it in the drawer down here? I was panicking because when I was driving home, I was shaking. And that's when I realized I really [Music] just so I have it clear. You just wanted to start the leaf on fire. I swear. For what? For what reason? Just explain. For what? I didn't have a reason. I didn't I can't think of any kind of reason that I would do that. Okay. And I swear I didn't mean to. But what are you doing? So, you left and you came back here. Or did you stop anywhere else? I came right back here, but I went to Quick Trip first because I was going to get gas, but I didn't park in the gas station and I just wanted to go home because Which Quick Trip did you go to? Did you go in the store? I don't even remember doing it, but I know I did it. I don't know why. I don't have a reason. I don't have a motive or anything. I didn't want to hurt anyone. I didn't want to get in trouble, but I did anyway. I don't know why I did it. I really don't. Okay. So, did you go into the store at Quick Trip? Did you try to start something on fire in Quick Trip? So, what did you do when you went to I went in the Quick Trip? I went to the bathroom and I looked at myself in the mirror and started crying and then I just walked out and went home. I will pay any amount of money to get rid of this, please. I want my life to be I it up. Did you Which direction did you come in at? Because you're parked this way. I really just I really can't remember doing it, but like I said, I knew I did it and impulsivity has always been a problem with me. And I'm really not trying to blame it on that. But I don't remember doing it. I just know that when I was walking out, I was shaking and I couldn't feel my limbs and I just regretted it. And I tried exercising right before you guys came here to ease my anxiety, but I feel really guilty. I really didn't mean to do it. I don't know what was going through my mind so bad. You're It's just It's just stuff. Okay. I'm sorry. Nobody got hurt. Nobody got hurt. Nobody got hurt. It's just stuff. Okay, I will pay all the damages. I don't care how You're not You're not going to have enough to pay those damages. No, you're not. What am I going to do? Wait, what's going to happen? Well, the the stuff is like you said, it's just stuff. Okay. You You'll never have enough to pay to replace that stuff, but it's it's Walmart. They have insurance. I'm being so care. I'm so glad I didn't hurt anyone. Oh, nobody got hurt. No, you're right. Nobody got hurt. God, I feel so bad. I don't know what came over me to do it. I just can't think of a single reason. Did you try to put it out or did it just get so big so fast that you couldn't? When I saw it spreading, I wanted to go back, but I freaked out and I didn't say anything. Did it spread fairly quickly? I didn't mean for it to happen. Explain to me how it spread. I don't know. When I told you I was walking away from it, I looked back and it just reached the ceiling and I was like, "Holy shit." I Where on the shelf was the leaf that you lit? Was it like like waist level or was it down lower? It wasn't waist level. About waist high. I didn't want that to happen. Period. Now that I just don't So how quickly did it get big? Really fast. Like less than a minute. Yeah. How long did you stand there for and watch it? I was frozen in place in that bra section for a split second and then you know Could you see it? Could you see the fire from the bra section? All I saw was just the top of it from the shelf to the ceiling. Okay. So, you could see it going over the top of the shelf. How long did you stay in the aisle once you lit the leaf? I just I looked at it for a split second and then when I walked away, that's when I finally realized. And that's why I acted fidgety in the video because I wouldn't I wanted to turn back and put it out, but I was freaking out because I didn't want to get hurt. I burned myself before and it hurts. But I also go, can I please still go to school? I imagine. Yeah, you'll you'll go to school at some point. What do you mean at some point? What's going to happen? We we will be arresting you. You better go get some pants on yourself. I'll be coming with you. So, just go slow. I swear I'm not a pyromaniac. I don't God. So, at the age of 17, she can be booked into jail. I figured. Listen, listen. Listen, listen. You're 17. Okay. Right. This is You're going to be okay. You have a long life to live. You're going to be okay. It it'll ultimately be up to the courts if if they want to proceed with this. Okay. If they want to proceed with this, you're going to be fine. I You made a big mistake. I did. But luckily, that's a a big company that can can handle it. Okay. But you're going to love you're going to there's definitely going to be some consequences for it. Okay. Do you have any weapons up here? Don't don't no don't no don't no don't no don't no don't no don't no don't no don't no don't no don't no don't no don't no don't no don't no don't no don't no don't no don't no don't no don't no. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. What do you have? What what's that? Just the blade that I use sometimes. Just don't touch it. You're fine. Let's throw on some sweatpants and some socks. Okay. Jesus Christ, dude. Oh god. You didn't mean to do that. I know. I remember. Do you have a body camera? Yes, I do. Oh, Jesus Christ. This is so amazing. Is this going to be published to YouTube? No. Oh, no. Thank you. I'm already filled with shame. Well, I I can't promise that, but Oh, God. Yeah. Just don't don't that's not what you need to be focusing on, right? She just just got in trouble for vaping weed in the classroom. Okay. You will be staying overnight. Is this her? Oh god. They're going to let me know when the bond is tomorrow. Love your big holy. I could have been you please. I love you. I'm sorry. I don't mean to be this way. I really hate myself for this. Remember, it's just stuff. Okay, breathe. I really wasn't thinking when I did it. I swear. Baby, I love you, but you need to breathe. Okay, breathe. It's going to be okay. I hope. I mean, after all this, I mean, okay, I'm ready. This is a lesson learned. Yes, it is. Oh. Oh Jesus. Oh god. Right, you want to snap a couple pictures of the car before you go? Oh Jesus. Oh god. M. Just breathe. Okay. Like your mom said. Do you know Detective Bray said this is stuff. Okay. I know. But nobody got hurt. I'm not a bad kid. I swear. Emma. Emma, I know that. I told you that in the house. I know you're not a bad kid. I'm grateful that you guys understand. I mean, not that you understand, but that Well, no, we're not like it. I don't think you did this cuz you're a bad person or you wanted to hurt anybody. I really wasn't aware of my own movements. I understand. So, here's how it's going to look in there. Okay. You're you're going to be by yourself. They won't put you in like a big cell with a bunch of people. Okay. So, they'll get you kind of changed out and everything like that. And um you'll be in probably just a Can you push my glasses? Yeah, you'll just be in kind of like a booking cell by yourself and then um you'll go see the judge tomorrow. Okay. I'm so embarrassed and just shameful. Oh god. Do you have anything in your pockets at all? Okay. I'm just going to search real quick. If I could, I would give you a hug and apologize, but obviously that's I appreciate that, Emma. That's I understand what you're saying. I get it. I get it. You know how sorry I am right. I I do believe you car. Oh god. We have a very very short trip up to the jail. So So I have your phone. Okay. Do I have permission to look through it? Yeah. Please don't message anyone. Oh, absolutely not. We'd never do that. Is it okay if you unbuckle if that's allowed? Yeah, I can do that. Do you happen to have any tissues? If not, that's okay. I might have some. By the way, I got to say you are quite attractive. Sorry, that other guy is too. Sorry. Oh my god. This is what I mean. I don't think before doing anything. I've had a lot weirder stuff said to me from people back there before. Hello. Hey, Smarter with one right there. [Music] You're going to go right where the blue square is and then just have a seat right there. Okay, just breathe and there's nothing nothing in here that's going to get to you. Okay. Given that the incident could potentially rank among one of the biggest [ __ ] shows in history, Emma was charged with felony counts of arson of property, firstderee recklessly endangering safety, criminal damage to property, misdemeanor disorderly conduct, and she was released a few days later on a $5,000 cash bond. Almost a year later, Emma pleaded guilty to two felony charges while the remaining charges were dismissed but read in. According to the AP store manager, the smoke and fire damage resulted in approximately $20,000 in building repairs, around $2 million in cleanup costs, and roughly $8 million in merchandise losses. Ultimately, Emma was sentenced to 8 years of probation with the following conditions: serve 60 days in jail, and pay $8,636,797 in restitution. However, if Emma plays her cards right on probation, she will only be required to pay $1 million in restitution by December 2034. Head over to codblcam.com and check out our great selection of qualitymade merch that won't disappoint. [Music]