Defendant In Ashwood Apartments Fire Awaits Hearing In Jail

NORTH COVENTRY TOWNSHIP, PA — The woman accused of recklessly causing the Ashwood Apartments fire in July is in Chester County Prison awaiting a preliminary hearing that was moved from Dec. 17 to Feb. 11, 2021.

Toni Kirk, 30, remains in custody because she is unable to make the bail set at $2.5 million when she was charged in early October with 250 counts of misdemeanor Reckless Endangerment, as well as five felonies. A fire marshal's inspection report said the fire was deliberately set. Kirk had to be extradited from New York, according to reports.

Kirk is scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge John A. Hipple on Feb. 11.

Authorities say Kirk started the July 30 fire that burned Ashwood Apartments to a shell, leaving her neighbors homeless and some injured. The fire that officials said began in Kirk's apartment completely destroyed the 43-unit Ashwood Apartments in North Coventry Township, on July 30, according to the Chester County District Attorney's Office, North Coventry Township Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, and Chester County Fire Marshal, who announced charges against Kirk in October.

The fire caused several injuries to residents and first responders, and the displacement and loss of possessions for all 100 residents. Damage is estimated to be at least $5 million. Chester County reported 20 families displaced in the fire were still seeking permanent housing months after the fire.

The felony charges against Kirk include: Causing a Catastrophe, Risking a Catastrophe, Criminal Mischief Intentional Damage to Property, and Aggravated Assault.

Charges of Recklessly Endangering Another Person are multiple; Kirk faces 250 counts of this second-degree misdemeanor, according to the court docket, as well as seven counts of simple assault, also a second-degree misdemeanor

"While no one, fortunately, lost their lives in the Ashwood Apartments fire, the long-term impact on these people and their families is devastating," said Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan.

The DA's complaint said a fire was reported at the Ashwood Apartments, at 782 Worth Boulevard in North Coventry Township, at 7:21 p.m. on July 30. A resident reported fire and smoke were visible in apartment #315 on the third floor and that people were trapped inside.

North Coventry Police officers determined that Kirk lived in apartment #315. Police officers who saw Kirk at the scene said she appeared to be under the influence of narcotics.

One victim reported hearing a loud bang, and said she saw Kirk outside apartment #315 as smoke was coming out of the apartment, according to official reports. The victim gathered her belongings but faced black smoke in the hallway when she tried to leave her apartment. She was overcome by smoke and lost consciousness.

Norco Fire Chief Joel McMillian found the victim on the third floor and carried her out of the building to safety, Ryan's office reported.

"They lost their homes, their belongings, and their sense of safety," said Ryan.

Several other victims suffered smoke inhalation and respiratory difficulties, as well as other injuries as a result of the fire and required hospitalization. Over 200 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene to assist. Several firefighters were treated for burns, heat exhaustion, and chest pain, according to reports.

On July 31, Chester County Chief Fire Marshal John Weer and Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Timothy Pray determined the fire originated in the living room of apartment #315, on or near a bed or mattress. The fire was ruled incendiary, meaning investigators then believed it was deliberately set, and not an accident.

The district attorney's office reported multiple witnesses said the defendant was the only one to exit apartment #315 after the fire. In a later interview with police, Kirk allegedly admitted that she was present in the building at the time of the fire, but accused another person of starting the fire, police said. Police said they later determined that the person Kirk accused was not at the apartments at the time of the fire.