Police allege a Leola man broke into a Lancaster city apartment Sunday and tried to set the building on fire.

Gary Almodovar, 20, of Brendon Drive, broke into the West King Street apartment, set the blaze, then fled down a fire escape, according to court documents.

No one was inside the apartment when the fire was set, but at least one other unit in the building was occupied, according to the documents.

No one was seriously injured, and investigators said a potential disaster was avoided. The building was evacuated as firefighters extinguished the blaze and investigated the scene.

Almodovar was at Lancaster County Prison on Monday charged with arson, burglary and risking a catastrophe — all felonies.

Firefighters and police evacuated 326 W. King St. after the kitchen fire was discovered about 4 a.m., according to officials.

Almodovar was spotted on the block as police checked the area. Upon questioning, officers learned he had an outstanding warrant. They also noticed a fresh laceration on his knee, according to an affidavit. Police believe Almodovar sustained that injury as he was entering or fleeing the apartment building.

As medics treated him, Almodovar was coughing heavily, the affidavit says.

When a medic asked if he had been around smoke, he said, "Yeah, the flames were high when I left," the affidavit shows.

During a police interview, Almodovar admitted that he set the fire by placing papers on top of four lit oven burners, according to the affidavit.

A motive for the crimes wasn't discussed Monday or described in the charging documents.

E-mail: bhambright@lnpnews.com