Pittsburgh police believe Martell Smith, 41, set the fire early Wednesday after getting into a bar fight with a relative of the victims who also lived at the home

A house fire that killed a young child and two women in Pittsburgh was allegedly set by a man who smelled of gasoline and bragged 'yep, I did it' as he watched the house burn.

Pittsburgh police believe Martell Smith, 41, set the fire early Wednesday after getting into a bar fight with a relative of the victims who also lived at the home.

A witness told police he overheard Smith muttering 'yep, yep, I did it,' while fire crews battled the blaze around 2am on Wednesday.

The police complaint alleged Smith was also heard muttering 'they made me do it.'

None of those killed were involved in the bar fight earlier that night.

The victims were identified as Chy'enne Manning, 4; her mother, Shamira Staten, 21; and Sandra Carter, 58. Each died from fire-related injuries, according to the medical examiner's office.

A fourth resident of the home, Cecil Douglas, 58, jumped to a neighboring home's roof to escape the blaze and suffered a leg injury.

Witnesses told police they overheard Smith muttering 'yep, yep, I did it,' while fire crews battled the blaze around 2am on Wednesday

Chy'enne Manning, 4; her mother, Shamira Staten, 21; (left) and Sandra Carter, 58 (right) were killed in the house fire

Smith is charged with three counts of homicide, along with arson and drug charges.

Also taken into custody was 26-year-old Tiasia Malloy who was with him when he was arrested.

Tiasia Malloy, 26, was with Smith at the time and was also taken into custody. She was charged with aggravated assault on an officer

Both Smith and Malloy smelled of gasoline when they were taken into custody, police said.

According to officers, Smith first told them he purchased a gas can at an area gas station but later insisted he did not purchase one.

During his police interview, Smith gave a number of inconsistent accounts of his actions and whereabouts during the fire, many of which police said they were able to prove as false.

Malloy is charged with aggravated assault on an officer. She screamed in the interview room, struck the walls of the room and threw chairs into the walls, police said.

Staten's brother, Chuck Staten, 26, said Wednesday that his sister was a devoted mother who loved her family.

He said Chy'enne was so outgoing that she would often say hello to strangers.

Their family have started of GoFundMe for funeral expenses.