Monday, October 15, 2007

Hamilton Heights may be arson

EYEWITNESS NEWS

Fire in Hamilton Heights may be arson
Dozens of residents sent fleeing; one person injured
Eyewitness News

Hamilton Heights - WABC, October 15, 2007) - There were dramatic moments Monday morning when an early morning fire forced more than a dozen people from their homes in Upper Manhattan.

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Investigators now believe someone may have set that fire that prompted so many rescues.

Fire investigators said they do believe the fire was was a case of arson. They also say that the fire started in an open room, just outside a back stair case.

Residents told Eyewitness News they believe someone was sleeping in that room, and that the the fire may have been with a mattress, left torched after the fire.

Authorities say the fire broke out in the first floor of 540 West 145th Street just before 4 a.m.

Residents fled the six-story building on the fire escape, with their children. Many handed off their kids to firefighters, who extended a ladder to the fire escape.

As many as 15 residents of the building were rescued by firefighters, according to officials.

Police say a 55-year-old resident of the building was seriously burned. He reportedly sustained first-degree burns to the face, first- and second-degree burns to his hands and forearms and a second-degree burn on his right foot. But, has since returned to the building and is said to be okay.

Fire marshals will determine the cause of the fire, which is under investigation.


http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=local&id=5707555

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