Police found signs Lisa Hay was inside her house after she allegedly lit her neighbour's Wangaratta home on fire, but she did not answer their repeated banging on her door and windows.
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Hay, 35, was later arrested and charged with arson and reckless conduct endangering life over the incident on September 1, 2017, but has pleaded not guilty.
Sergeant Brian McCormack told the trial at Wodonga County Court on Friday that he was one of the first on scene and saw the Burke Street house full engulfed.
"When I arrived I could see flames shooting above the roof line, shooting high up into the air, so I knew it was serious," he said.
He was initially concerned the out-of-control house fire could spread into other properties and tried three times to get Hay's attention - the last time by "banging on the windows to a ridiculous degree".
"It was palms, fists, banging on the weather boards," Sergeant McCormack said.
He also called out her name after he realised she lived at the house.
A light on in the lounge room and a dry scarf lying on the wet and dewy lawn gave the indication Hay was inside the house.
Victoria Police scientist George Xydias said the fire started in the alcove at the back door. "Deliberate ignition seems to be the most likely means," he said.
"It appears someone has started the fire close to ground level."
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He said he could not find any source of an accidental fire such as an electrical fault, candles, cigarette butts or faulty wires.
Hay's barrister Martin Kozlowski said Mr Xydias's evidence "seems kind of tentative".
He asked what kind of different noises the fire would have made as it started.
Crime scene officer Leading Senior Constable Mick Arnott gave evidence that he found Hay's fingerprints on the fence that separated her and Ms Sieger's properties.
The trial will continue on Monday.
