An Atlantic City man has been sentenced to seven years in state prison for setting fire to an apartment building.

Police say the incident began in August of 2025, when they were called to the scene of a fire at the High Gates apartment building on Absecon Boulevard.

Officers were informed by the building’s security manager that a man started the fire on the sixth floor.

Investigators uncovered surveillance footage showing Khalil Washington gathering items from the trash room and setting them on fire in front of one of the apartment doors.

The footage also showed him hold a lit paper plate up to a ceiling sprinkler, which activated and ended up flooding the building.

Police say the 42-year-old was arrested and taken to a hospital for injuries he sustained from the force of the sprinkler.

No other injuries were reported, according to authorities.

Washington later pleaded guilty to a charge of causing widespread damage.