ORLANDO, Fla. — Two children and two adults were injured while trying to escape from a fire at an Orlando apartment building, investigators said.
Authorities said the fire at the Coconut Palms apartments on Middlebrook Road near Conroy and Kirkman roads may be arson.
Fire officials said they found evidence the fire was set at the top and bottom of the stairwell.
Photos: 3 hurt in Orlando apartment fire
"From what I can tell, the fire was set at the bottom and it was set at the top. The one that probably got going real good was the one at the bottom," said District Fire Chief Kevin Jerelds.
Authorities said the family lived in one of the apartments on the second floor, and when the mother opened the door Monday morning, she saw smoke.
"She burst in the door (saying), "The house is on fire. The house is on fire," Brock Williams said, describing his mother's reaction.
"We were sleeping here and we opened the window and just knocked the screen out," Williams said.
Residents upstairs said they tried to do the same, but with children ages 9 and 7, they decided to take their chances by racing down a burning staircase.
"We tried to use the extinguisher and we tried to put it (out), but everything, when we were going down, everybody, as you can see burned our feet and you can see that's what happened," said victim Alberto Cruz.
The children, their mother and their uncle are expected to be OK.
"Count your Blessing. Count your blessings, because it could have been a lot worse," Williams said.
Fire investigators said the apartment is not safe for the family to live in. The American Red Cross has been called to assist the family.
Residents of the building said they have no idea why anyone would intentionally set fire to the building.
Reporter Deneige Broom will have the latest on the fire on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at 4.
"From what I can tell, the fire was set at the bottom and it was set at the top. The one that probably got going real good was the one at the bottom," said District Fire Chief Kevin Jerelds.
Authorities said the family lived in one of the apartments on the second floor, and when the mother opened the door Monday morning, she saw smoke.
"She burst in the door (saying), "The house is on fire. The house is on fire," Brock Williams said, describing his mother's reaction.
"We were sleeping here and we opened the window and just knocked the screen out," Williams said.
Residents upstairs said they tried to do the same, but with children ages 9 and 7, they decided to take their chances by racing down a burning staircase.
"We tried to use the extinguisher and we tried to put it (out), but everything, when we were going down, everybody, as you can see burned our feet and you can see that's what happened," said victim Alberto Cruz.
The children, their mother and their uncle are expected to be OK.
"Count your Blessing. Count your blessings, because it could have been a lot worse," Williams said.
Fire investigators said the apartment is not safe for the family to live in. The American Red Cross has been called to assist the family.
Residents of the building said they have no idea why anyone would intentionally set fire to the building.
WFTV
