One arrested after early morning arson

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. WAVY) - Officials are investigating an early morning house fire in Newport News and say it was arson.

The fire sparked before 2:30 a.m. in the 1100 block of Hampton Avenue Friday morning. The property manager, Albert Thomas, told WAVY.com the home housed six adults, all of which were displaced due to the fire.

Thomas told WAVY.com he watched one tenant use gasoline, clothes and other items around a room to set the fire. Battalion Chief Robert Lee with Newport News Fire did confirm the fire was the result of arson.

According to Thomas, the tenant began threatening to set the house on fire just after midnight.  Thomas claims he's been having trouble with the resident for a long time.  Another resident displaced by the fire, James Graves, told WAVY.com the resident was upset because he believed someone in the building had stolen money from him.

The fire is out and one arrest has been made, Lee told WAVY.com. Lee confirmed the suspect is a resident of the home.  He has not been identified.

Lee said a woman did have to exit the home from an upper level during the fire. She suffered minor injuries. Thomas told WAVY.com she jumped from a second floor roof. 

The American Red Cross responded to the scene.