A Taipei woman who set fire to her rented apartment during a fight with her ex-partner had her prison term cut sharply on appeal — a win for her, but the case underlines how a domestic argument put a whole building at risk.

• During an argument in April 2025, the woman used a lighter to set curtains alight in the flat she had shared with her ex-boyfriend.
• The fire destroyed the home, spread to a neighbouring house, and burned her own hands, head and feet.
• A lower court gave her 7 years 10 months for setting fire to an occupied home; the High Court has now reduced that to 3 years 10 months.
• She admitted lighting the fire but denied doing it on purpose, saying she tried to put it out — the judges did not believe her.
• The court found the blaze damaged the building's main structure and endangered the lives and property of people who had nothing to do with the dispute.

Outlook: The reduced sentence can still be appealed, so the final term may not be settled yet.