Patty Wisness, 55, Minot, is accused of setting a fire in the laundry room at the YWCA in downtown Minot two years ago.

She is charged with Class B felony endangerment by fire.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed with the court, Wisness lived in an apartment at the YWCA at the time of the fire on March 24, 2019. A fire started inside a basket that had been left on the laundry room floor, under a counter, near an infant car seat. Security camera footage showed Wisness entering and then leaving the laundry room.

Officers spoke with Wisness and noted that her apartment smelled of cigarette smoke and there was a used ash tray in the apartment.

Wisness denied that she had been in the laundry room or that she had set a fire.

A complaint against Wisness was filed in August 2019, 5 months after the fire. The warrant was not served on Wisness for another 17 months, until December 2020.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Thursday before Judge Stacy Louser.