On Saturday, February 4th, 2023, at 1:50 pm, the Turlock Fire Department and Turlock Police Department were dispatched to a reported structure fire at a residence in the 300 block of Almond Ave, Turlock.

When firefighters arrived on scene, they found a scorching area behind a dryer where a fire had been.

The resident expressed her concerns that Machelle Smith, 48, of Turlock, had started the fire, and officers located her nearby. Smith admitted to it and gave her reasoning behind it.

Smith was arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on the charge of arson.

The investigation remains ongoing.