A woman is recovering today after having to jump from an intentionally set fire in Mount Vernon on Wednesday.

Investigators say the fire broke out at a three-story building at 14 Mount Vernon Ave. about 7:45 p.m. Wednesday. It took firefighters about 20 minutes to put out the flames, but they had a flare-up at 9:15 p.m. and had to work to get that out.

A total of 26 people, including two infants, were forced out of the building with most escaping down the fire escape.

April Jackson-Haywood describes the frightening, panic-filled moments trying to escape her third-floor apartment as fire tore through her building, "I couldn't see it was so black." Jackson-Haywood says she barely could get out of her window. "The smoke hit me and I'm rushing like this trying to open the window and all I could do was fall out." Jackson-Haywood says she jumped to a police officer waiting to catch her. "I didn't know what to do so I had to jump off the fire escape last night and I landed on an officer and I'm just hoping this officer is OK. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving my life."

News 12 has learned that it was Lt. Marcel OlifIrIs that saved Jackson-Haywood. He suffered a gash on his hand that took seven stiches to mend, but he is expected to be fine.

Investigators say Zakila Gorham, 29, purposely started the fire in her first-floor apartment in the building. She has been charged with second-degree arson. Officials haven't released a motive and only say that Gorham is an "emotionally disturbed person."

The residents have been allowed back in to retrieve belongings, but there is too much damage to live there. The Red Cross has set people up in emergency housing for now.