URBANA – A Champaign firefighter told police she set fire to her own truck because she was behind on payments and torched a co-worker's to make it look like someone else burned both.

Monica Hall, 50, of Mahomet was arraigned Friday on two counts of arson and one of obstructing justice, all felonies.

She was placed on administrative leave with pay Thursday from the fire department, where she's worked a total of nine years from 1998 to 2001 and from 2003 to this month. She was formerly a teacher in Monticello.

Assistant State's Attorney Steve Ziegler said one count of arson alleges Hall set fire to her own 2008 Nissan Titan with the intent to defraud State Farm Insurance. The other count alleges she set fire to firefighter Todd Anderson's 1997 Ford Explorer. The obstructing justice charge alleges that she disposed of a black hooded sweatshirt and sweat pants that she wore to conceal her identity while setting the fires. She told police she put them in a trash bin at a west Champaign apartment complex.

The fires were reported about 4 a.m. Aug. 6 in the employee parking lot behind the main fire station at 307 S. Randolph St., where both Hall and Anderson were on duty at the time.

"She says she burned her vehicle for insurance proceeds due to financial problems, including payments on that vehicle," Ziegler said. "His was just convenient. It was unlocked. She admits she set fire to both vehicles while everyone was asleep. She used a rock to break the window of her own vehicle."

Ziegler said Champaign police found a gas container and a lighter near Hall's vehicle. Ziegler said Hall's truck was valued at $20,000 while Anderson's Explorer was listed as being worth $3,400. Some other nearby vehicles suffered heat damage, he said.

Ziegler said Champaign police interviewed Hall more than once. She was arrested Thursday.

In court Friday, Assistant State's Attorney Duke Harris said Hall also told police that in 2005, she set fire to a vehicle for insurance purposes but no criminal charges were filed.

If convicted of the more serious arson charges, Hall could face penalties ranging from probation to three to seven years in prison.

Hall told Judge Richard Klaus she wanted to hire her own attorney so Klaus ordered her to be back in court Aug. 28.

Arguing for a low bond, Assistant Public Defender Anthony Ortega said Hall is the primary caretaker for her two children, ages 4 and 5.

Klaus set her bond at $10,000, meaning she has to post $1,000 in cash to be released.