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'What I did tonight is keeping you in business': Man confesses after setting Jacksonville home on fire

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department were able to determine that the fire started on a mattress near the front of the residence.

An arrest has been made after a suspicious fire destroyed a home in the Brentwood area of Jacksonville last week.

Terry Lee Austin, 52,  was charged with arson after police say he lit a house on fire which caused several small explosions and spread to a nearby apartment complex.

According to the arrest report, a JSO officer noticed smoke coming from Bretta Street in the Arlington Road area. When the officer arrived he says that several small explosions erupted from within the residence. The explosion debris flew towards a nearby apartment complex and caught it on fire.

RELATED: Arson suspected after home catches fire in Brentwood neighborhood

The officer was able to safely evacuate everyone from the building.

A witness told police he saw a man light the home on fire and got into an altercation with him. The witness said the suspect was a homeless man named "Terry" and he tried to hold him at the scene but was unsuccessful. 

Police later found Austin and took him into custody. Austin reportedly told police that it "looks like I've got a place to stay tonight" while looking at the jail.

He then said, "what I did tonight is keeping you in business, man. You've got a job to do and I'm helping you keep your job." 

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department were able to determine that the fire started on a mattress near the front of the residence.

Alcohol did play a role in this crime, according to the arrest report.

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