Fire in Norwood leaves 2 injured; man claims blaze was a misunderstanding
Nearly 80 first responders rushed to a building on Decatur Avenue shortly after 7:30 a.m. after reports of a fire on the fourth floor. Officials say two people were injured in the blaze, including a firefighter.
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An early morning fire in Norwood left two people injured on Friday and sparked a chaotic scene as firefighters searched for a possible suspect inside the building.
Nearly 80 first responders rushed to a building on Decatur Avenue shortly after 7:30 a.m. following reports of a fire on the fourth floor. Officials say two people were injured in the blaze, including a firefighter.
Radio transmissions captured during the response suggested firefighters believed someone inside the building may have been intentionally setting fires.
“Are they still in the building lighting a fire?” one firefighter can be heard asking over the radio.
Video from the scene shows firefighters climbing fire escapes and scanning the building for potential danger as smoke billowed from the structure.
Authorities initially believed an emotionally disturbed person may have started the fire.
Outside the building, News 12 encountered a man who identified himself as Anthony. Witnesses said he had run from the building earlier wearing little clothing.
“As I turn around, he come running out the building…butt naked — all he had on was a condom and tube socks,” said a witness who lives nearby.
When News 12 later spoke with Anthony on Decatur Avenue, he claimed the apartment that caught fire was his.
“I was waiting for the fire marshal before I got arrested,” he said.
Anthony said the building’s superintendent believed he intentionally started the fire but claims investigators could not arrest him for arson.
According to Anthony, the fire started accidentally while he was cooking breakfast.
“I had a small pot cooking, getting ready to cook some breakfast this morning, and I fell asleep so the pot burned,” he said.
Police later took Anthony into custody again Friday evening, though authorities have not confirmed whether he started the fire.
