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A woman in her 40s has been arrested in connection with a fire that tore through an apartment building in Paris, killing at least ten people including a baby, on Tuesday morning.

The woman, who lives in the building, was arrested while trying to set fire to a car and a wheely bin in the street outside the block.

While the cause of the blaze is not yet known, local media reports that a dispute between neighbours lead to the deadly blaze, and an investigation into 'death by arson' has been launched.

The blaze in the the eight-storey block in the French capital's wealthy 16th arrondissement also left 36 people - including six firefighters - injured. 

Blaze: The fire in the eight-storey building killed at least ten people and also left 31 people - including six firefighters - injured

Dramatic: Images show firemen rescuing residents who climbed up onto the roof and top floor to escape the fire

Rescue mission: Some of the estimated 200 Paris firefighters working to extinguish the blaze and rescue residents are seen scaling the exterior of the building 

In this image taken from video released by the Paris Fire Department, firemen scale the top floors of the building on fire 

The initial death toll of eight increased to ten after the fire had been extinguished when the remains of two people were found in the rubble of the upper floors

Three people died after falling or jumping from the building, Le Figaro reports. 

Prosecutor Remy Heitz told reporters Tuesday an investigation has been opened into the criminal charge of causing death by arson.

He said the arrested woman was in her 40s, and had been under treatment 'for psychological problems'. 

'Her T-shirt was smouldering, but she was in the process of starting more fires,' said a source connected to the local BAC anti-criminal brigade, which made the arrest.

Following her arrest, the woman who was drunk at the time of arrest, was taken to a nearby hospital suffering with physical injuries caused by the fire. 

'She has psychological problems, and had been drinking heavily at the time of the fire,' said a source close to the enquiry.

'She was being treated at a local psychiatric unit, but was still living in the block where she is thought to have started to fire. She was involved in regular arguments with other neighbours, who often complained about her behaviour.'  

Destruction: View of the apartment building  on Tuesday, hours after the fire that killed ten people was put out

Rescued: Firefighters carry a dog that was saved from the flames of the eight-storey apartment block

An investigation has been opened into the criminal charge of causing death by arson, a Paris prosecutor said 

The fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday morning, and continued into the morning before it could be extinguished 

The fire raged through the top floors of the building until well into Tuesday morning before it could be put out

Firemen are seen working to put out the blaze on Erlanger Dtreet in the 16th arrondissement in Paris

Emmanuel Grégoire, one of the deputy mayors of Paris, said the woman had told police of a 'quarrel between neighbours'. 

'We will let the police give additional information, but this is one of the theories being explored by investigators,' Mr Grégoire said according to The Local. 

More than 200 firefighters worked through the night to extinguish the fire, which started in the early hours of Tuesday, and were able to rescue 50 people from the flames.

The building is located on an inner courtyard, meaning firetrucks were unable to drive up to the building, and firefighters were forced to carry ladders to be able to reach stranded residents. 

Fire service spokesman Clement Cognon said firefighters are continuing to search apartments to see if there are any other victims and ensure that no residual fires break out.

Emergency workers are also working to ensure the building doesn't collapse from the fire damage.

A witness to a Paris apartment fire says she saw flames shooting out for hours from the top of the building and smoke-covered victims fleeing. 

Jacqueline Ravier, who lives across the street from the building hit by Tuesday's fire, said 'I heard a woman screaming in the street, crying and screaming for help.'

Fire crews said that the apartment block and surrounding buildings had been evacuated by 3.30am

Some of those affected scrambled on to nearby roofs to escape the flames, and needed to be rescued by fire crews

She said shaken, evacuated residents were brought to her building and the one next door while firefighters continued to fight the flames. 

She described seeing 'a young man in his underwear,' blackened by smoke, and a woman motionless on the ground outside.

'We feel the smoke,' she said. 'What's surprising is how long it lasted.'  

The building is less than a mile from the Roland Garros stadium that hosts the French Open tennis tournament, and close to the popular Bois de Boulogne park on the city's western edge.

More than 200 firefighters and emergency workers are on the scene, Paris police said, and the street is blocked off.

People in neighbouring buildings were also evacuated. 

Images and video shared on social media show the flames tearing through the top of the building

Fire service spokesman Clement Cognon speaks to the press after a building caught fire in the 16th arrondissement

Firefighters and policemen stand on the scene of the fire in Paris, in the early hours of Tuesday

200 firefighters battled to control the blaze and rescue survivors who fled onto nearby roofs

The fire comes a month after a deadly explosion and blaze linked to a gas leak in a Paris bakery.

The 16th arrondissement is one of the most luxurious districts of Paris.

'The toll could still increase because the fire is still in progress on the 7th and 8th floors' of the eight-storey block, a fire service spokesman told a reporter at the scene. 

Some of those affected scrambled on to nearby roofs to escape the smoke and flames, and needed to be rescued by fire crews.

With landmarks including the Trocadero overlooking the Eiffel Tower, Paris Saint-Germain's home stadium the Parc des Princes, the picturesque Bois de Bologne and an array of upmarket shops and restaurants, the area is popular with tourists.

Mr Cognon said earlier: 'We had to carry out many rescues, including some people who had taken refuge on the roofs.'