PORTLAND, Ore. — A man was arrested for arson after police said he set his Southeast Portland apartment on fire early Wednesday morning and left without telling anyone.
The fire forced residents to flee the building, including one family who jumped from a second-story balcony to escape.
Portland Fire & Rescue said in a tweet that there were no confirmed injuries in the fire at the Alder Royal Apartments, located near Southeast Alder Street and 162nd Avenue.
Residents said the fire started around 2 a.m.
According to a Portland Police Bureau (PPB) spokeswoman, witnesses followed the suspect to a nearby 7-Eleven after the fire started and pointed him out to officers, who took the man into custody.
Gary Lee Hickey, 40, faces one count of first-degree arson.
Most of the fire was contained in one of the apartments on the building’s second floor. Fire officials said one adult jumped from a balcony with two kids, a cat and a dog. Another resident caught the children, police said.
Seven units were damaged, leaving those residents displaced, firefighters said.