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Someone Set Their House On Fire And Locked The Door From Outside
posted (November 7, 2016)
The rash of fires continues in the city, and more families are displaced tonight after an early Sunday morning fire destroyed 3 buildings on Castle Street. This time, the blaze claimed 2 family homes and a church - and fire authorities say it's arson.

At around 4:35, the fire raged at the house situated between the church and another residence. Fortunately, both families quickly made it out before the fire engulfed their homes. We went to find out what caused this fire and how these families will move on.

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
There will be no more service at the Castle Street Salvation Army church. That warm spirit that greeted the congregation every Sunday was cast out by an early morning blaze.

The only semblance of hope was shining through an opening in the charred roof.

But there was no hope for this home. The fire started here, on the right side of the church. A woman and her 2 kids were sleeping inside when the flames rose. When they tried to get out, the door was jammed but they found another way out.

Voice of: Neighbor
"Well I just saw that my neighbor shouted and made some noise, and I looked out and I saw her jumping out of her window with one of her kids and the whole place was already burning quick. If she had gotten up any later it would have been a different story."

And Luis Barcelona and his family also made it out just in time. They were upstairs when the blaze blew over to their house.

Luis Barcelona Sr., Fire Victim
"We were asleep and we heard cracking noise in the room, and when we got up, my girlfriend looked outside the window, we saw a big blaze and she said it was fire."

Barcelona then raced out with his 2 sons - one is 2 weeks old and the other 2 years old. He told us he lost everything totaling about $27,000 in damages, but he is grateful that he and his loved ones are safe.

Luis Barcelona Sr., Fire Victim
"It hurt that I lost everything that I had because some of the things are like my kids pictures and certificates, they have sentimental value but these things are material stuff ,we can always replace them but the lives we cannot replace the lives."

But what caused these people's lives to be turned upside down? The fire department says it was arson.

Orin Smith, Station Manager, Fire Dept.
"On arrival on the scene we found the wooden 20 by 24 structure fully engulfed in flames, this structure sat between two 2 story concrete structure on either side, the upper flat of both of these structures one at 25 castle Street and other at 19 were also on fire."

"The fire is classified as incendiary in nature."

So while the fire department has concluded their investigation, these residents are left to look beyond the ruin left behind and recreate the comfort they once had.

Luis Barcelona Sr., Fire Victim
"We start from scratch again."

Barcelona's Lower flat only received water damage so he is staying downstairs. His common law wife and young kids are staying at a relatives. If you would like to help him and his family you can call 632 7810 or find him at 19 Castle Street.

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