Cotter, AR. – A woman was recently arrested following a residential duplex fire that resulted in a complete loss on Friday, August 23, 2024. 73-year-old Barbara Flippin is being charged with a misdemeanor charge of unlawful burning.
According to the report from the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, Baxter County 911 was dispatched after they received a report of a fire at 1339 Harding Boulevard just before 3:15 p.m. According to a deputy Flippin stated that she was just trying to cook but then held her hands out with her wrists together. The Cotter Mayor, Mac Caradine, was on the scene and told the deputy that Flippin had allegedly stated that she was going to burn down the residence. The Cotter Fire Department has reportedly responded to three other fires at the duplex earlier that same week.
Personnel from the Cotter Fire Department, the Gassville Fire Department, and the Cotter and Gassville Rural Fire Departments were at the scene for nearly 2 1/2 hours. One of the firefighters reportedly had to be transported to Baxter Health from overheating while fighting the fire. Several neighbors in the area went through a power outage due to the fire. In addition to the complete loss, a portion of U.S. Highway 62B in Cotter had to be shut down.
Barbara Flippin remains incarcerated and is being held without bond.
