COLUMBUS -A suspected arson engulfed an apartment complex yesterday, killing 10 people and forcing other residents to jump from third-story windows, firefighters said.
All of the victims, including a child, lived in the same apartment on the third floor, which was destroyed in the quickly moving fire, said Prairie Township Fire Chief Steve Feustel.
The fire broke out about 2:30 a.m. at the 24-unit Lincoln Park West Apartments in suburban Columbus. The flames left a wooden skeleton exposed above melted siding and at least 53 people homeless.
Two people, including a woman who jumped from a window, were treated and released from Mount Carmel West hospital, a nursing supervisor said. Authorities would not say yesterday afternoon whether others were still missing.
My family is dead
survivor Antonio Noriega said, leaning against a neighboring building.
He said his brother, sister-in-law, three nephews and five others lived in the two-bedroom apartment where the bodies were found. He did not believe any of them made it out of the brick and wood building.
Noriega, who was wearing a vest but no shirt, had jumped out the window of his first-floor apartment. He said firefighters pulled him from a ladder as he tried to rescue those on the third floor.
My family they're sleeping and the fire is coming fast he said. I can't help my brothers.
Feustel said it was suspicious that the fire burned so fiercely in a stairway, which in modern buildings are designed not to burn. The flames there blocked people from escaping.
He said it appeared the first victims found had been trying to escape the flames.
They were out of their beds. They didn't die in their sleep
he said.
Noriega said the victims were immigrants from Mexico and came to Columbus four years ago. Many in the family worked together at a landscaping company.
Those left homeless stood vigil outside yesterday -some wrapped in blankets, some quietly sobbing. Dozens more joined them in the wait as news spread.
Feustel said the fire started either in the basement or the first floor, but the cause was not known. There were no suspects and no known witnesses.
The fire came about six weeks after three fires were set in the same building in an empty apartment and hallway, Feustel said.
Pascasie Mulanigulwa, who lives in the next building, was awakened by the light through her bedroom window.
I saw people jumping down out of the third floor. It was terrible
she said.
Firefighters were throwing charred building materials to the courtyard yesterday. The American Red Cross was handing out water, coffee and doughnuts and helping residents find temporary housing and other needs.
Residents unable to get into to their apartments sat on cars in the parking lot and in the grass while investigators and firefighters were in the burned apartment. The residents were told that they could move into empty apartments, but it was not clear when that would happen.
A hydrant that apparently had been knocked over by a car and then set upright delayed getting water to fight the fire, which was already shooting through the roof when crews arrived, Feustel said.
This is one no fire chief
no fire department
ever wants to face
he said.
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