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A Durham woman was charged Sunday with setting fire to the University Ridge Apartments in Durham and injuring three people, including two firefighters.
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The fire destroyed nine apartments in the 18-unit building, displacing 18 residents, Durham Deputy Fire Chief Chris Iannuzzi said in an email Monday.
Mahogany Ashley Massey, 31, was arrested on a felony charge of first-degree arson, three counts of common-law felony arson that results in serious injury to a firefighter, and three counts of felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury, according to court records. She is being held in the Durham County jail without bail.
The charges were filed by the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations, records show.
Durham firefighters found a major fire when they arrived at the apartments on University Drive on Sunday morning. At least one person jumped from the building to escape, and seven people were injured, Iannuzzi said in a statement. Five people were sent to the hospital, he said.
Firefighters also reported pulling an additional resident through a first-floor window and rescuing a dog from the building, he said. About 75 firefighters from multiple departments fought windy conditions to get the fire under control after about an hour Sunday.
According to an arrest warrant, Massey is accused of assaulting three occupants of the apartment complex by causing injuries from smoke inhalation, a spinal fracture, and a cut to a man’s right arm as he was fleeing the fire.
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Massey is also accused of causing injuries to three firefighters who were responding to the blaze. One firefighter was treated at the scene, Iannuzi said Monday, and two others were treated and released from Duke University Medical Center. Their injuries ranged from a cut to a knee injury and a burn, he said.
Only one of the victims at the apartment complex suffered severe injuries, he said.
Massey made her first appearance in court Monday morning to get an attorney and ask about bond. She does not appear to be a resident of the apartment complex, according to court records.
Court records show she has been in and out of court since September on larceny, shoplifting and drug charges. In December, she spent seven days in the county jail after being found in contempt of court while being served with shoplifting and second-degree trespassing charges.
Records show the Dec. 16 contempt charge was filed after Massey cursed the magistrate and threw a Bible at her before ripping up her court paperwork.
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Faith Wardwell contributed to this report.
This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 11:51 AM.