BATON ROUGE - Authorities have arrested a woman after a fire damaged multiple apartments Monday morning. 

The fire was reported before 8:20 a.m. in the 12500 block of N. Ardenwood. Officials said firefighters had to force their way into the apartment.

Once inside, crews found two fires in different rooms. Officials say the main apartment received heavy smoke and fire damage. Two other units received light smoke.

Monday afternoon, authorities said Shalonda Herring had been arrested. According to the arrest report, Herring admitting to lighting a cigarette on a stove then igniting a mattress in a bedroom and a pile of clothing in another room.

Herring caused approximately $50,000 in damages and was charged with aggravated arson.