JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
One person is in jail charged with arson in a morning house fire in the Capital City. Firefighters were called to 1200 block of Morson Road in West Jackson for a fully involved house fire. Jeffery Williams, one of the men who lived in the house was arrested and charged with arson in the fire. It's believed Williams left the scene, while his cousin was sleep inside of the house.
Flames and smoke filled up 1219 Morson Road around 4 AM Thursday.
"Crazy way to start your morning," said Jackson resident Alvarez Bell.
Bell escaped from his bedroom window and he rushed back inside the burning house for his cat.
"I had to go back in. The neighbors laughed when I went back in, but I thought I want to save my cat," said Bell.
Bell was able to save his 6 month-old cat Rez, but his other cat named Felix didn't make it. About an hour before the fire started Bell said his cousin Jeffery Williams, who also lived at the house came home drunk and angry, telling Bell he wanted to talk.
"I kept saying no its 3 o'clock in the morning, I gotta get up for work I want to go to sleep," said Bell.
Bell said his cousin told him "if you don't come talk to me I'm going to set the house on fire."
About an hour later Bell said, "I was woke by the crackling of the fire and that's when I opened the door and saw nothing but flames."
Bell said a burning mattress was in front of his bedroom door. He said he doesn't want to believe his cousin tried to kill him, but he said that's what it looked like from the evidence. Bell said he just recently removed his air conditioner from his bedroom window. If the unit was still in place, he doesn't think he or Rez would be alive.
Williams was arrested by Jackson Fire Department investigators at the scene of the fire.
Copyright 2012 WLBT. All rights reserved.
Alvarez Bell & Rez, survivors of morning house fire
WLBT 3 - Fox 40
