ATLANTA -- Fire crews battled a house fire in southeast Atlanta Friday morning that spread to neighboring homes including one owned by a well-known community activist.

Investigators said a two-story house that was under construction on Ormond Street somehow caught fire and the flames spread to two other homes including that of 86-year-old Mattie Jackson -- who has been a fixture in the Summerhill neighborhood for decades, CBS46 reported.

Fire investigators said they believe the fire was intentionally set.

Jackson is on the board of directors for the neighborhood revitalization corporation and also carried the Olympic torch in 1996 and in 2000.

Pictures from the torch rallies and some Atlanta Braves collectibles were the only things Jackson said she was able to salvage from her burned-out home.

"This doesn't look like my house," said Jackson. "No it doesn't. My bed, look at my bed. But they got me out of here, and that's the good thing."

Neighbors said it seemed like an eternity before firefighters responded. State Sen. Douglas Dean, D-Atlanta, blamed the mayor and city council for recent cuts to the fire department.

"We must say to the mayor's office, get it right. Get that budget. If it calls for a tax increase, we must do that," said Dean.

Authorities said it only took four minutes after the first 911 call for the first engine to arrive.

The mayor's chief of staff Greg Pridgeon, was also at the scene in the wake of the fire and personally escorted Jackson into what was left of her home of 40 years.

Jackson said she is glad that she recovered part of her Olympic torch, but still felt devastated.

"Fast as it burned down, the faster we're going to get it back up. We're a strong neighborhood," said Jackson.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.