BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo police say they have arrested 35-year-old Joseph Aronica III of Buffalo in connection to a massive early morning fire. He's facing second-degree arson, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief charges.

For one family, this is déjà vu. 

"Thirteen years ago, maybe 14-years-ago, when our house caught on fire we lost everything,” Jerome Dandridge said. “All I could think of was here it is again and I just want to get my kids out."

Dandridge was just coming home when he saw the smoke billowing from the roof of the home next door. He recalls the residents running out and screaming for him to call 911.

He made the call just before 4 a.m., but not before running into his home next door to wake up his wife and two teenage sons.

"When companies came on the scene, they did an aggressive interior attack and search on both the first and second floor,” Buffalo Fire Department Division Chief Michael Tuberdyke said. “Subsequent searches proved clear."

They quickly had to turn their attention to the burning attic; those flames would eventually spread to two other homes, including Dandridge's.

While crews worked to put the flames out, Dandridge already believed it was his neighbor who started it all.

"When I was coming home, he was walking out and he walked that way and he never looked back,” he said. “The some smoke was coming out very evidently."

Taking a look at what's left, Dandridge says they're all lucky they all walked away. 

"It's stressful and it's hard right now because you know in your head you just lost everything you worked for,” he said. “But, when you sit down and you calm down, you recognize the important thing is that you walked out."

Red Cross volunteers who were at the scene early Tuesday morning say they’re helping seven adults and two children.