A Norwood apartment fire that displaced seven families over the weekend is being investigated as an arson.
Norwood Fire Chief Ron Wallace said he suspects someone purposely set the stairwell ablaze in a two-story apartment building on Lawn Avenue.
Several trapped residents were hanging out windows with heavy smoke and flames visible when fire crews pulled up about 3:45 a.m. Sunday, he said.
Firefighters rescued two people.
“When you set a fire in a stairwell, that’s a very serious thing," Wallace said. “That’s how people exit the building and in the middle of the night at 3:45 am., people are in bed sleeping.”
Everyone made it out safely, but two people were treated on scene for minor injuries, he said.