Photo courtesy of Joy Ross
A duplex in Cotter was a total loss after it caught fire Friday afternoon, and a resident of the duplex is facing a misdemeanor as a result. Seventy-three-year-old Barbara Flippin was booked into the Baxter County Detention Center for unlawful burning.
Barbara Flippin (Photo courtesy of Baxter County Sheriff’s Office)
According to an incident report, Baxter County 911 dispatch to the report of the fire at 1339 Harding Boulevard just before 3:15. A Baxter County deputy states in the report Flippin says she was trying to cook, but she then held out her hands with her wrists together.
Cotter Mayor Mac Caradine was on the scene and told the deputy Flippin had allegedly stated she was going to burn down the residence. The Cotter Fire Department has reportedly responded three times during the prior week to putting out other fires at the duplex.
Cotter Fire Chief Lyle Jack says his department was assisted by the Gassville and Cotter Gassville Rural fire departments. Personnel were on the scene for nearly 2 1/2 hours, and one firefighter had to be transported to Baxter Health from getting overheated.
Chief Jack also says several neighbors in the area went through a temporary power outage due to the fire. In addition, a portion of U.S. Highway 62B in Cotter had to be shut down, delaying the Arkansas Department of Transportation’s road work on the highway.
Flippin remains incarcerated and is being held without bond.
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