One person died and eight families were displaced in a Saturday night fire at Carriage Hill Apartments in LaFayette. LaFayette Police report that arson is the cause and a suspect is in custody.

WQCH Radio in LaFayette reports, Shennia Marie Chambers, a resident on the third floor, admitting starting a fire in her own apartment, according to Public Safety Director Stacey Meeks. She is charged with first degree arson and murder.

The victim was identified as 19 year old Sierra Johnson. She was pulled from her apartment on a floor below the fire, but died of smoke inhalation, Meeks said.

LaFayette Fire, Walker Fire Rescue, Catoosa Fire, Trion Fire and Walker Correctional all responded to the call, which came in at 11:14 p.m. Meeks said LaFayette Police arrived first and began clearing people out of the burning structure.

The fire was limited to the 3 story Building-F in the Carriage Hill complex just off North Main in LaFayette. The Red Cross provided the 8 surviving families with lodging for one night. All their possessions were destroyed. Meeks commended all the responders and even bystanders who helped get people out of the burning building: “Deaths could easily have been in the double-digits”, he said.

On Monday, Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King announced that arson and murder charges were being brought against Chambers, who admitted to starting the fire: