A New Orleans woman is arrested, accused of setting fire to her apartment building after being given an eviction notice earlier in the day. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the suspect, 25-year-old Jazlynn Major, was located and arrested in Huntsville, Texas.
“With the help of the authorities over there, we were able to take her into custody and she’ll be extradited back to Louisiana to face charges for 26 counts of aggravated arson,” said Major.
Witnesses tell investigators the suspect left her apartment around 8:40 Monday night and a glow could be seen from her window, but the glow grew brighter and they realized it was a fire.
The three-alarm blaze garnered the response of 70 firefighters. Browning says 26 residents in 20 units left their apartments unharmed, but a pet died in the blaze.
“The fire department responded and got there real quick, helped evacuate those people, and kept that fire from spreading to other buildings. It’s very concerning what occurred. We did have one animal, I think it was a dog, that did perish,” said Browning.
Major could face between two to 20 years in prison if convicted. Browning says the state has seen an uptick in arsons during the pandemic.
“Fire departments across the state certainly are taxed. Our criminal investigators are certainly working overtime to keep up with the demand,” said Browning.
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