The 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office filed official arson charges against an Aurora man in connection to an apartment fire Monday morning.

Paul Clark, 45, was charged with two counts of fourth-degree arson, one count of first-degree arson and aggravated cruelty to animals — all felonies — in connection to the apartment fire that occurred around 12:30 a.m. Monday morning, according to a press release from the district attorney’s office.

Aurora Fire Rescue responded to the Abrigo apartment building near Peoria Street and East 30th Avenue in Aurora early Monday morning. A unit in the building was on fire.

Clark, the resident of the unit, had left the apartment before firefighters arrived. Responders sent him to a nearby hospital with minor injuries, according to the fire department.

Investigations then found that Clark allegedly started the fire, ultimately leading to his arrest Monday morning.

Flames from the apartment were visible from miles away, according to the fire department. Upon arrival, responders saw flames and black smoke on the east side of the apartment building on the top floor.

Firefighters contained the fire to the third-floor apartment,  and protected surrounding units and residents from danger, according to the agency.

As responders were evacuating nearby residents and extinguishing the fire, they found a dog in Clark’s unit that had died from the fire. Two other residents of the apartment below Clark’s unit were also displaced as a result of water damage.

Clark is due in the Adams County District Court on Dec. 27.