'Suspicious' fire in Camden leaves 6 injured
CAMDEN, N.J. (WPVI) -- An early morning fire in Camden, New Jersey is being called 'suspicious.'
The fire started after 4:30 a.m. in a row home on the 800 block of Haddon Avenue, and quickly spread to neighboring homes.
Six people were injured, including four children, and seven families were forced from their homes. Those injured suffered smoke inhalation and all are expected to be okay.
Investigators say the blaze was no accident.
"This fire does appear to be purposefully set," said Chief Scott J. Thomson. "We have a person on interest in custody who we are currently talking to."
While police have a possible motive in mind, no charges have been filed so far.
"We did respond to this location yesterday because of a conflict between the sheriff's office and a tenant who was in the process of being evicted," Thomson said.
It was a terrifying scene.
"Everything was engulfed in flames and the windows were exploding. It was intense. You could feel it as you come out," said Darnell Fisher.
Firefighters say two people jumped from one home. One neighbor saw a woman running after getting her kids out safely.
"She had two babies in her hands, he was saying in Spanish to the other kids 'come, come, come,'" said Lalelah Favors.
"You look at the amount of people that have been put at risk from this, especially small children, and if this person did it they will have to face justice," Thomson said.
The Red Cross arrived and fire crews escorted some victims to get medication and shoes. Some of the building, divided into apartments, were destroyed.
