A 52-year-old woman has been charged with arson following a deliberately lit fire that caused $400,000 in damage to a West Launceston home overnight.
Emergency services responded to reports of a blaze at Merrys Lane around 10:30pm on Wednesday.
A man, who was inside when the fire started, managed to escape unharmed and alerted authorities.
Crews from Launceston and Prospect Fire Stations attended the scene and brought the fire under control, though not before it had caused extensive damage.
Police arrested the suspect, who was found outside the residence when emergency services arrived.
A subsequent fire investigation confirmed the blaze was deliberately lit.
The woman, who police say has no fixed address, remains in custody.
She will face an arson charge in the Launceston Magistrates Court tonight.
