PHOENIX — A fire broke out at a residential building Grand Canyon University Sunday morning causing students to evacuate the building. It is now being investigated as "a suspicious fire" and a suspect has recently been taken into custody, according to fire and police officials.
The Phoenix Fire Department said the fire started at around 9:30 a.m. at the Agave Apartments, a six-story student housing building near 35th Avenue and Camelback Road. The building houses about 577 people.
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
Crews found a smoke-filled hallway on the third floor of the building. The fire was burning in a common living area on the floor, the department said in a news release.
The sprinkler system activated before crews arrived and "kept the fire in check," allowing it to be extinguished.
"The combination of fire sprinkler activation and quick actions by firefighters prevented further damage and fire extension into the structure," the department said.
No one was injured in the fire, officials said.
The department said it is unclear how many students will be displaced because of the fire. A community assistance program is working to help those affected.
Fire and police investigators said the fire was suspicious. Officials said it was determined that the fire was human-caused.
Phoenix police said a suspect identified as Jacob Jarvis was arrested on Oct. 29 after Jarvis allegedly made incriminating statements.
Jarvis is a student at GCU and lives on campus, police said.
The suspect allegedly told investigators the reason for starting the fires was the result of him feeling "stressed out." The suspect further stated he was "sorry" about the incident and planned to write an apology letter to the university.
Jarvis is facing arson charges, police said.
Court appearance
Jarvis appeared in court on Oct. 30, where further details about the case were revealed.
According to court documents, a sofa in the common living area of the building was set on fire. The sofa was located against a wall next to a fire escape door.
During an interview, Jarvis to investigators he had stolen a lighter from his roommate and used it to start the fire. A sheet of paper taped to a wall, a door and the sofa were set on fire, documents said.
During the interview, Jarvis told investigators that after the fire was set, he left the building through a fire escape and went to his girlfriend's apartment on the other side of campus. Then, around 15 minutes later he went back to the building to watch the fire burn, documents said.
Jarvis also told investigators during the interview that he has Asperger Syndrome and was off of his medication.
Jarvis is facing two count of arson, a class to felony.
Jarvis's bond was set at $25,000. He is scheduled for another court appearance on Nov. 5.
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
More ways to get 12News
On your phone: Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
On your streaming device: Download 12News+ to your streaming device
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.