JFRD: Arlington apartment fire being investigated as possible arson

Person of interest taken into custody, police say

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The cause of an apartment fire in Arlington is under investigation, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department said.

The blaze was reported just before 10 p.m. at an apartment building on Sandhurst Road South, near the intersection of Merrill Road and Townsend Boulevard. 

According to a fire chief at the scene, the fire could be a case of an arson. 

The State Fire Marshal was called to investigate.

The landlord and tenants told News4Jax they believe the fire was started by a former tenant who had just been evicted. 

"(As) Soon as we left, we went up the street for about 10 minutes to go to Dairy Queen. We came back (and) the apartment was on fire. He was gone," said one tenant."When I came back, smoke was running all out the window and everybody was getting out of the apartment. And that’s all I know right now."

These neighbors say they are grateful no one was hurt. Most of the fire damage appears to be contained to the upper-right side of the building.

Theresa Hathaway said she just got out of the shower and ordered a pizza before the fire erupted. She believes the pizza deliver guy was the person who called 911. 

“He knocked on the door and said 'fire, fire!' I jumped up and fire was coming out of the windows,” said Hathaway.

Police said a person of interest was taken into custody nearby just before 11:30 p.m.He was found less than a mile from the apartment building.

Two people burned out of their apartment were staying with relatives.

 


About the Authors:

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.

Award-winning broadcast and multimedia journalist with 20 years experience.