Woman confesses she ‘lit a house on fire with people inside and pulled up a chair to watch it burn’

 A WOMAN has been arrest for attempted murder after she set her home on fire with another person trapped inside and pulled up a chair to watch the property burn.

Gail Metwally, 47, was caught on camera lounging in a lawn chair with a book on her lap as her home in Elkton, Maryland, went up in flames on Thursday.

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Gail Metwally, 47, was caught on camera lounging in a lawn chair with a book on her lap as her home in Elkton, Maryland, went up in flamesCredit: Maryland State Fire Marshall via Twitter

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An image of Thursday's fire is seen in the above imageCredit: Cecil County State Fire Marshal

Fire officials were summoned to the home at around 1.15pm.

Witnesses told investigators they watched on in disbelief as Metwally set multiple fires inside the home before strolling outside and observing her handiwork from a chair.

In footage of the incident, a man can be heard shouting, "She just f**king lit the trash can on fire!" as he films the blaze with his cellphone.

"Oh my f–king God, this is not happening right now! She lit the f–king house! Oh my God! I cannot actually believe my eyes. I cannot actually believe it, and she’s sitting there just chillin’ — watching the house go up flames!”

Metwally, dressed in a white tank top and sun hat, is briefly seen sitting in the chair in the video.

"Like yeah, I’m watching the s**t go down!," the man recording continued. "Oh, my God, this is, this is now turned into a serious, serious thing!”

Within a matter of seconds, the fire engulfs the entire structure, sending a thick plume of black smoke billowing into the air.

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Metwally set multiple fires inside the home before strolling outside and observing her handiwork from a chairCredit: Snapchat Whippin In Da Kitchin

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With in a matter of seconds, the fire engulfs the entire structure, sending a thick plume of black smoke billowing into the airCredit: Snapchat Whippin In Da Kitchin

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Blenda Holbrook is seen being hoisted out of the basement of the home by a bystanderCredit: Snapchat Whippin In Da Kitchin

A woman - later identified as Blenda Holbrook - can be heard screaming from the basement of the home as firefighters arrive on scene.

Bystanders race to Holbrook's aid and hoist her out of a window of the burning property. She was unharmed.

Amid the panic, Metwally fled on foot.

She was apprehended by deputies from the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office a few blocks away.

Authorities said Metwally lived in the home with three other people, including Holbrook.

The other two occupants were not home when the fire broke out on Thursday.

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Authorities said Metwally lived in the home with three other people, including HolbrookCredit: Snapchat Whippin In Da Kitchin

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Metwally was apprehended by deputies from the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office a few blocks away after fleeing the sceneCredit: Snapchat Whippin In Da Kitchin

A possible motive and her relationship to Holbrook are not immediately clear.

Holbrook's sister, Pat Bernal, told WMAR2, that someone had tossed a trash can on the stairs blocking her path to get out.

“She almost burned to death in that house, and I’m just really thankful she’s okay,” said Bernal, “When she was talking to me, she said, ‘Pat, it burned my hair. It singed my hair, and he lost everything.”

Bernal said Metwally had recently returned to the home after being confined elsewhere for mental health issues.She further claimed that her sister had repeatedly pleaded with authorities to address Metwally's "behavioral issues" but was routinely ignored.

Metwally remains in custody after being charged with first- and second-degree attempted murder, first-degree arson, first-degree assault, two counts of malicious burning, two counts of malicious destruction of property and two counts of reckless endangerment.

She is being held at the Cecil County Detention Center, pending an arraignment.