HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — UPDATE (8/27): Huntsville Police announced Tuesday that investigators have arrested Jonathan Lamont Hughes in connection with the Sunday fire.
(8/26): On Monday, Huntsville Police confirmed that evidence leads investigators to believe the fire at the Biltmore Place Apartments was set intentionally.
(8/25): Accounts from a witness and an employee of a northwest Huntsville apartment block indicate a domestic argument between a woman and a man may have resulted in an intentionally-set fire.
Police and fire crews were called to the Biltmore Place Apartments located on Old Blue Spring Road Sunday afternoon to find a downstairs unit completely on fire, with flames spreading to and destroying at least one upstairs apartment.
Crews with Huntsville Utilities and Xfinity were also seen on the property managing power and telecom lines during the incident.
A woman who identified herself as a member of the apartment's management told FOX54 News that she believes there was a domestic fight in progress shortly before the fire was reported.
The resident of the second-floor apartment, Walter Paige, said he heard a verbal argument between the man and the tenant of the downstairs apartment. Paige recalled seeing the woman leave a short time later, then saw the man return moments before the fire started.
"I happened to turn and saw smoke coming up," he said. "I ran downstairs and that's when I heard the windows pop."
Paige says he has lost everything he owned inside his apartment, which he moved into just three months ago. He says he does not have renters' insurance.
The woman renting the downstairs apartment, after speaking with police, confirmed that she had an argument with a man she claims was trying to rekindle a sexual relationship with her. She said she believes the man set the fire in an act of revenge for spurning his advances.
Firefighters were seen leaving the property around 2:30 p.m. Huntsville Police are continuing to investigate the incident.
Two HEMSI paramedics were transported to the hospital with heat-related illnesses but are expected to be okay.