CLEVELAND (AP) -- A neighborhood's mood changed from grief to disbelief after investigators ruled that arson was responsible for the pre-dawn house fire that killed a mother and eight children.
''It's already a hurting feeling,'' said Theresa Smith, 47, standing by the blackened house on Wednesday.
The May 21 fire was initially ruled an accident. One of the victims was buried on Saturday, and an estimated 4,000 people attended a funeral for the other eight at the city's convention center on Tuesday.
A few hours later, city officials revealed that test showed an accelerant, something like gasoline, was used to spread the fire. Mayor Jane Campbell informed surviving relatives that night. Authorities haven't made any arrests or figured out a motive.
Smith said neighbors are eager to see the arsonist caught and put on trial.
''You know the courtroom is going to be packed,'' she said. ''To kill eight children and an adult is terrible.''
A working smoke detector provided a critical clue in deciding the blaze was arson.
Surviving relatives sensed that something was wrong when none of the victims, a mother and eight children involved in a birthday sleepover, was able to escape.
''We had young, able-bodied people who we believe had a smoke detector warning and weren't able to evacuate. I think that got our attention the most,'' Fire Chief Paul Stubbs said Wednesday.
Campbell said the initial investigation ''could not find something that would lead us to a cause other than accidental. So, on an initial basis it looked as if we had an accidental situation.''
''What we know is that our firefighters and this investigative unit just never would take the simple answer. Somehow, there was something that didn't quite add up. And so they kept at it.''
Fire Lt. Tim Corrigan said at least one smoke detector in the house had a battery with a charge, indicating it was in working order. Firefighters initially were unsure whether the smoke detectors were working.
The extent of the fire surprised veteran firefighters who arrived at the scene and found the first and second floors totally involved, with heavy flames coming out windows broken by neighbors in frantic rescue attempts.
The victims died of smoke inhalation on the second floor of the wood-frame house. A person normally would have 3 to 4 minutes to escape in that situation, Stubbs said.
The fire was ruled arson after the state fire marshal confirmed tests done by city firefighters that pointed to an accelerant.
Residents of the poor neighborhood three miles from downtown were hoping for justice Wednesday.
''I don't think getting revenge on someone will bring the children back,'' said Latonya Hobbs, 34, who drove from a suburb to visit her old neighborhood. ''Let the law handle it and let justice do its job.''
Delores Johnson, 72, said whoever set the fire did something terrible.
''If you don't like a person, why take their life? Just let them be,'' she said.
Associated Press reporter Joe Milicia contributed to this story.
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