Missoula Homeless Woman Lights U.S. Post Office Bushes on Fire

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On July 17, 2024, Missoula Police Department Officers were dispatched to the U.S. Post Office located at 1100 Kent Avenue for a report of a fire. Call details described a homeless female lit a bush on fire next to the building and the flames were almost as tall as the flagpole. An officer responded to the Post Office and contacted the complainant who is an employee.  

The employee said she observed a female feeding paper towels into the fire. She said the female got up, walked away, looked at her, and cursed at her. She advised the flames were nearly as high as the light pole the bush was touching, which is approximately 25 feet tall. She described the female and said she was pushing a shopping cart toward Albertsons.  

The officer contacted another witness, another employee, who observed a female with a Twisted Tea box that was burning already. He said the female kicked the burning box into the bush and walked away. 

The officer recognized that he stopped 26-year-old Serena Tarango at the front lawn of the Post Office as she was accused of littering and disorderly conduct for an unrelated incident. He remembered that Tarango was wearing the same outfit and was pushing a shopping cart on that day as well.  

Another officer responded who is also familiar with Tarango. He knows she frequents homeless shelters in the area. He drove towards one of the nearby shelters and observed Tarango heading west on North Avenue. He and another officer placed Tarango under arrest.  

During a search incident to arrest, officers located a “tooter” straw and used tin foil with residue on Tarango. A clear plastic bag containing a used syringe was found in the shopping cart Tarango was pushing. An officer observed a red Bic lighter inside the cart as well.  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Officers determined that two adult juniper bushes were set on fire. Officers contacted a local landscaping company that advised the cost of replacement bushes, installation and transplanting, and labor would likely cost around $2,500 for the entire job to restore the area to its previous condition. 

Tarango is currently being charged with felony arson and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $20,000. 

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.