A fire that left two people hurt at an apartment building in Revere, Massachusetts, this weekend was set intentionally, officials said, asking for information to help their investigation.
Dozens of people were displaced in the fire, reported about 5:49 p.m., on Park Avenue near Staff Sergeant James J. Hill High School, according to local police and state and local firefighters.
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"This incident could have caused a devastating tragedy," Revere Fire Chief Christopher Bright said in a statement.
The investigation determined that the blaze was set intentionally, prompting arson watch posters to go up at the building on Monday, officials said. People who share information that helps detect or prevent arson can receive up to $5,000, and all calls to the hotline, 800-682-9229, are confidential.
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Ariel Carrero was among those forced from their homes because of the fire, and now he's in a very stressful situation.
“Me and my father been living out of the car for two days now. It’s horrible. It really is,” Carrero told NBC10 Boston. "My father's handicapped. He needs a heart transplant. He's got cancer. It's horrible."
Carrero's sister says since they can't go back home, they'll stay at a hotel, which can get costly -- quick.
“Now you’re essentially leaving an elderly person out in the cold with no secure place to stay you know, and that’s not right,” she said.
Carrero believes police will track down whoever is responsible for the fire.
"There’s cameras all over the building. They’re going to find the person who did it. They’ve got cameras all over this place,” he said. "It’s horrible, it really is. When they catch the guy, they catch the guy.”
Revere fire officials told NBC10 Boston that the fire started in one unit and spread to another. After evacuating everyone from the building, firefighters realized an elderly woman was still inside and she had to be rescued.
"The door was not open, it actually was on fire with heavy, black smoke, so they had to force entry of the door and remove her from that room," firefighter Tyler D'Angelo said. "We grabbed her and made sure we could get her down the stairs. Luckily she could walk."
One person was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation treatment, while another had different injuries that were believed to be minor in nature, Bright said Sunday.
An investigation is ongoing.
