A woman accused of burning down a Woodbury man’s house set the fire when he didn’t answer the door after inviting her over for sex, authorities said.

Taija M. Russell, 29, of Blackwood, was arrested Tuesday and charged with attempted murder and aggravated arson in the Aug. 4 blaze, which left the man with first- and second-degree burns.

The man described Russell as a “side chick” in a police report on the incident. Police were alerted to the fire around 4:30 a.m. when the man ran into the Woodbury police station lobby wearing only a T-shirt and covered in soot.

Coughing and out of breath, he told them he had just escaped from his burning home a short distance away on South Barber Street.

After firefighters doused the blaze and rescued the victim’s dog, investigators determined the fire was an arson. A review of messages on the man’s phone and surveillance video led police to Russell, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim told police he had invited her to his house for sex, but fell asleep before she arrived.

A review of his phone showed eight missed calls from Russell, police said, along with text messages in which she wrote “You wasted my money to come out here,” “U smoked,” “I see you wanna die,” and “I swear to god I hope you die."

Police obtained security camera video showing her purchasing lighter fluid, matches and a lighter from a nearby gas station. Other video shows her return to the residence and head to the back door, the only entrance to the residence, with the items. By 4:08 a.m., the house was ablaze.

The man awoke to find the house burning and tried to leave through the door, but the flames were too intense. He was able to escape through a window, but suffered burns to his hands and body, and smoke inhalation.

Russell was arrested Tuesday and placed in Salem County Correctional Facility pending hearings. She is also charged with aggravated assault, endangering/creating substantial risk of death and criminal mischief.

Anyone with additional information about the incident is asked to contact Woodbury Police Detective Cpl. Alex Phillips at 856-845-0065, ext. 130.

District 5 just cleared a Dwelling Fire on the 200 Block of South Barber Avenue, one resident was transported to a local... Posted by Woodbury Fire Department on Sunday, August 4, 2019

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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