Kristen Nixon, 30, was taken into custody after the fire at 418 Bronx Park Avenue last Wednesday.
Nixon, who was living illegally at that address, was charged with first and second-degree arson, reckless endangerment and four counts of first-degree assault.
She will be arraigned on Wednesday.
The fire critically injured four people, including a young mother and her two-year-old, who were rescued by firefighters.
One tenant told investigators she received a threat from the suspect, a former resident of the house.
The tenant lost a fistfight with Nixon and promised revenge, authorities said.
Nixon allegedly returned the morning of the fire with a flammable liquid, which fire marshals said she poured in the basement hallway outside the door of a bedroom where all four of the victims were staying.