PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — A person is in custody after a suspected arson fire late Thursday night at a Prince George's County apartment complex that left families displaced and firefighters injured.
Crews with the Prince George's County Fire Department responded to the complex, located on Huntley Square Drive, off of Brinkley Road, in Temple Hills, just before 11:15 p.m. after receiving a report of a structure fire. Once at the scene, firefighters found a three-story, garden-style apartment building with heavy flames showing.
The responding firefighters described the fire as "well advanced" when they arrived and a second alarm was requested. At 1:17 a.m., the fire department tweeted that the fire was put out and crews were monitoring hot spots.
Two firefighters were taken to an area hospital to be evaluated for minor burns.
Both firefighters have since been released.
The Prince George's County Office of Emergency Management responded to the scene to assist those who were displaced from their homes – eight adults and two children.
According to the fire department, the fire left around $1 million in damages.
One person that was in the building recalled to WUSA9's Jess Arnold the moments they found out about the fire.
"Knocks on the door, so on and so forth, 'It's a fire; it's a fire.' Grabbed my clothes, ran outside, and I mean, we just kind of stood there and looked until the fire department came," the resident said. "I mean, it happened so fast. You know, it went so quick. You get the knock and the next thing you know it's like the whole building's on fire."
Police took 50-year-old Anthony Cooper into custody following the fire.
Investigators say Cooper admitted to purposing lighting the flames. He has been taken to the Prince George's County Department of Corrections in Upper Marlboro. He faces charges of first-degree arson and reckless endangerment.
Cooper has been the target of a Domestic Violence Protective order and has faced assault charges in the past, according Maryland Court records.
Fire survivors reported overhearing an argument coming from Cooper’s apartment and said he lived there with a woman and the woman’s daughter.