ELKHART — A Monday morning, March 18, fire in an Elkhart apartment was arson, according to an Elkhart Fire Department news release.

Firefighters responded to an apartment in the two-story building at 514 W. Franklin St. at 11:56 a.m. to find light smoke issuing from the building.

A woman who was in the residence at the time the fire broke out said she didn’t realize the house was on fire until her uncle went in and told her.

Upon entering, they found a fire in a living room on the first floor and had the blaze under control at 12:19 p.m.

The news release lists the ignition factor of the fire as “incendiary.”

Franklin Street was blocked between Fifth and Sixth Streets while fire crews worked.

The fire caused “little damage” to the vacant apartment.

Sharon Hernandez contributed to this story.