Dayton Daily News
TROY, Ohio — A fire in which three people were injured after jumping to safety has been ruled an arson.
The fire engulfed the apartments at 32 Foss Way in Troy around 3 a.m. Some of the 15 tenants inside the building were able to walk out.
Others used a fire ladder to escape.
The staircase was impassable for those on the second floor. The three who jumped suffered injuries and the severity was not known by press time.
One of the three was flown to the hospital in a medical helicopter.
Officials have not identified the fire victims.
Mutual aid from Casstown Fire Department and Tipp City medics were called to the fire to help with removing victims and controlling the fire.
“It was just mass hysteria and utter confusion,” said Troy Police Officer John Marshall who was one of the responders to the apartment building fire Wednesday morning.
“People couldn’t figure out how to get out of their apartment.”
Five of the seven units were damaged, and no one will be allowed to stay in the structure. Power and water have been shut off.
The residents were visibly shaken as they watched firefighters put out the flames.
“It’s pretty scary being woken up in the middle of the night to someone telling you the building’s on fire,” said resident Anthony Smith.
The state fire marshal ruled the fire as arson and it remains under investigation. A damage estimate has not been announced.