CLEVELAND, June 1 (UPI) -- Investigators have determined the Cleveland fire that killed eight children and an adult was intentionally set, Mayor Jane Campbell said.
Campbell told the Cleveland Plain Dealer she was told of the investigation results just hours after the funeral for eight of the nine victims. Cleveland officials would not say whether there was a suspect in the case, the newspaper reported.
Fire officials originally said the fire was apparently an accident but subsequent tests showed the presence of a liquid accelerant, the Plain Dealer said.
Emergency personnel arrived at the scene of the fire within 3 minutes of the first report about 3 a.m. May 21, but the first floor of the house was engulfed in flames.
All of the victims were found on the second floor of the house. A 22-year-old woman was badly burned but survived. Another person escaped the fire unharmed. Neither is considered a suspect.
Some 4,000 people attended a funeral service for eight of the victims Tuesday.
