Plano apartment fire investigated as arson, person of interest in custody
Police say Plano resident started apartment fire
A Plano woman is behind bars after police say she intentionally started a fire at the apartment complex she reportedly lives in. FOX 4's David Sentendrey has more.
PLANO, Texas - A late-night apartment fire in Plano sent one man to the hospital. Police believe the fire was intentionally set and have a person of interest in custody.
What we know:
The fire started around midnight at the Villas at Chase Oaks apartments, located in the 600 block of Legacy Drive just west of Central Expressway.
First responders arrived within three minutes, finding heavy smoke and fire along the roof of a building.
Firefighters rescued a man from a second-story balcony after residents heard him yelling for help. Paramedics took the man to the hospital with minor injuries, and no one else was hurt.
A roof collapsed onto firefighters during the incident, but none of them were injured, officials said. Officials say 10 to 12 units inside the building are uninhabitable because of the damage.
Apartment management and the Red Cross are helping displaced residents find temporary housing.
Dig deeper:
A fire department spokesperson said officials believe the fire was arson. Police have taken Travon Andrews into custody in connection to the fire.
Andrews has been charged with arson causing bodily injury or death and arson intended to damage a habitat or place of worship.
No bond has been set for Andrews, who remains in the Collin County Jail. FOX 4 has learned Andrews is a resident of the building.
Travon Andrews (Collin County Jail)
What we don't know:
Fire and police officials have not released details on how or why they believe Andrews started the fire.
Officials also have not confirmed exactly how many people the fire displaced.
What they're saying:
Timothy Howard, a resident living on the first floor, watched the balcony rescue happen as he escaped the building.
"As I was jumping, they had to get the ladder, and there was an older man on top of me," the resident said. "And he was like, 'help, help!' So they got the ladder. Thank God for these guys, these firefighters out here."
What's next:
Plano Fire-Rescue says the Fire Marshal's Office is leading the active and ongoing investigation into the fire.
The American Red Cross are helping displaced residents affected by the fire.
Man rescued from overnight apartment fire in Plano
One person is in the hospital after an apartment fire in Plano. Investigators suspect arson.
The Source: The information in this article comes from Plano police, Plano fire officials, and witness accounts provided to FOX 4.