A Springfield man was arrested and charged with arson Friday after he set fire to his former girlfriend’s bedroom at a Rincon apartment complex, according to the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office.

David Michael Jackson, 25, was charged with first-degree arson along with burglary and aggravated assault. He is being held in the Effingham County Jail without bond.

Jackson entered the woman’s home in building I of The Georgian apartment complex while she wasn’t there, according to investigators. He set her bed on fire, but the fire burned itself out before it spread to the rest of the apartment, said Rincon Fire Chief Corey Rahn.

The woman returned home several hours after Jackson started the fire. The smell of smoke was so strong that she thought the fire might still be burning and she called 911, Rahn said.

Rincon Police responded to the apartment at 105 Lisa Street around 5 p.m. Evidence at the scene strongly suggested it had been set intentionally, and ECSO Arson Investigator Dan Mealor was notified.

Mealor “was able to determine several points of origin for the fire along with other accelerants that were placed to further help the fire spread,” said Sgt. Don White, chief investigator for the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office.

“What (Jackson) planned on happening was burning the whole place down,” White said.

With the help of Rincon Police and witnesses, investigators determined Jackson started the fire. Effingham County deputies located Jackson and took him into custody.

Because of Jackson’s intent, he will be charged with one count of aggravated assault for every person who lives in the apartment building, according to White. He added that Jackson has been charged with one count of aggravated assault, and more counts will be added when he is indicted.

“He had the potential to harm everybody in the building,” White said.