Arson Suspect Arrested in Pasadena Dialysis Center Fire

Pasadena authorities announced Wednesday an arson suspect has been arrested in connection with a fire that erupted behind an occupied medical building in the 300 block of South Fair Oaks Avenue early Friday morning.

Johanna Romo, 38, of Pasadena, was arrested on June 16 on suspicion of arson after surveillance video showed her setting fire to a DaVita Dialysis center in Pasadena, a City spokesperson said.

The fire was reported shortly after 5:30 a.m. There were approximately 22 patients and 11 staff members inside the center at the time, many of whom were in the middle of dialysis treatment, authorities said. All patients were evacuated by Pasadena Police and there were no injuries reported.

Surveillance video reportedly showed Romo setting fire to a large locked storage area of the structure.

As a result of the blaze, a natural gas main was damaged and added to the difficulty and danger of extinguishing the blaze, the spokesperson said.

Pasadena police officers located Romo at Memorial Park around 10 p.m. that same day. She was reportedly wearing identical clothing to the female suspect in the surveillance video.

According to authorities, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office is filing charges against Romo for arson of an inhabited structure.