Argument over wife’s decision to divorce spurs Mason City man to light house fire

MASON CITY – A Mason City man got the bad news that his wife had had it with him, and after the contentious counseling session, she dropped him at their home (that she owns) and he allegedly proceeded to flip tables and light a dangerous fire that put the entire family on the street.

Dustin Jon Baltierra, age 39, is now in the Cerro Gordo county jail, booked in on Monday evening at 5:42 PM, on the serious felony charge of first-degree arson. The charge was brought by Mason City police after an investigation into a fire at 160 15th Street NW. On July 17, 2025, at 10:06 AM, the Mason City Fire Department responded to a report of a house fire with attached garage at 160 15th Street NW, which is owned by Brittany Ruehlow. Fire crews arrived finding smoke coming from a breezeway that connected the house and the garage. The fire was quickly extinguished. However, investigators continued to work the incident.

Mason City police assisted the Mason City fire department with an arson investigation based on how the fire started, Chief of Police Jeff Brinkley tells NIT.

“Following the completion of the investigation, Baltierra (pictured at top) was charged with Arson 1st Degree, Chief Brinkley explained this morning. “The complaint states that ‘Dustin started a fire on the breezeway of the residence that he shares with his family. This arson occurred after an argument with his wife involving their marriage ending. Dustin admitted to damaging items in the house prior to the fire and said he flipped over a table which blocked the entrance to the breezeway, where the fire occurred. Dustin’s wife had recently left the residence and Dustin was sitting outside with his dog when the fire became noticeable to neighbors. An investigation by MCFD concluded that the fire was started by open flame to Class A materials. Residents denied smoking cigarettes within the past year and denied anyone’s presence in the breezeway area in the recent past.'”

According to source that reached out to NIT after the incident, “Well, they went to counseling and she told him she was filing for divorce, dropped him off at home and he called 25 minutes later that the house was on fire. We knew he did it instantly! Just had to wait for the fire investigation to be complete!!! But if you ask his family, he didn’t do it! He’s an IDIOT!”

The fire was so destructive, that Baltierra and his family are out of the house.

“Bad enough they can’t live there,” NIT was told by the source.

“I believe he started it in the breezeway?” the source continued. “There is a damn gas can sitting on a kids picnic table next to the garage.”

After the fire, but prior to the arrest, the source says the entire family had to find new places to live.

“He went to his sisters and she is at her mom’s with her kids.”

Baltierra allegedly wrote on his social media after the incident, “You never think something like this would ever happen to your fsmily (sic) tell (sic)  it does I’m just thankful no one was hurt”