BATON ROUGE — An early Friday morning fire along Tennessee Street is being investigated as arson by the Baton Rouge Fire Department.

Crews responded to the house fire around 1:47 a.m. to find the front of the home and carport engulfed in flames. Two adults and five children were outside, having escaped without injury, BRFD said.

Baton Rouge Fire Department Public Information Officer Justin Hill said firefighters responded around 1 a.m. and found fire through the front half of the house. Two adults and five children got out safely before crews brought the fire under control and kept it from spreading to a neighboring home, Hill said.

Hill said investigators found evidence at the scene that led them to believe someone intentionally set the fire. He said investigators have not released those details because that could compromise the investigation.

A neighbor said he heard a boom while lying down and then saw flames when he looked out his front window.

"I opened my door and ran out here, 'cause when I looked out my window, I seen it was flaming up. And I'm like, Lord, I can't do nothing about this here one. I hope they not in here," one resident said.

Although fire officials would not confirm it, residents in the area believe the person who started the fire had a relationship to someone living in the home