Houston Man Accused of Setting House Fire With Family Inside

HOUSTON (AP) — Authorities say a Houston man intentionally set his house on fire while his wife and two young children were inside. The family escaped safely.

The blaze began early Sunday. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted that a man identified as 31-year-old Jimmy Lauder poured gasoline inside the home and set it on fire.

Authorities say the woman called 911 after a smoke alarm went off. The family got out of the house with the help of first responders.

Harris County Fire Marshal's spokeswoman Rachel Moreno says Lauder was charged with arson and child endangerment and booked into Harris County jail. It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney.