COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The size and intensity of a fire that killed 10 people makes it suspicious, as well as previous suspicious blazes at the same apartment building, said authorities on Monday, adding they hope to find the cause this week.
State and federal officials said they aren't ruling anything out.
Ismael Noriega, 36, his wife, Lidia Mejia, 22, and their three young sons died in the fire, according to Antonio Noriega, Ismael's brother. Mejia's two brothers, her nephew and two family friends also died in the fire at the Lincoln Park West Apartments in suburban Columbus, Noriega said. Authorities had not yet released a list of names.
The immigrants from Mexico lived in the same apartment on the third floor, which was destroyed in the quickly moving fire that was through the roof before crews arrived, Prairie Township Fire Chief Steve Feustel said. Flames in stairwells, usually built to be fire-resistant, blocked exits.
At least 53 people were left homeless by the fire, which left the 24-unit building unlivable, authorities said.
Gerald Robinson, chief deputy state fire marshal, cited ``the number of fatalities involved, previous fires at this apartment complex, and the magnitude of the fire upon the arrival of the first arriving company'' as suspicious.
On July 11, the fire department investigated three fires in the same apartment building, one in a stairwell and two in an abandoned apartment, said Feustel.
Antonio Noriega said he reached for a ladder in a desperate attempt to reach relatives trapped on the third floor, but firefighters pulled him away.
``My family, they're sleeping and the fire is coming fast,'' said Noriega, who had jumped out the window of his first-floor apartment. ``I can't help my brothers.''
The fire started about 2:30 a.m. either in the basement or the first floor, but the cause was not known, Feustel said. There were no suspects and no known witnesses.
It appeared the first victims found had been trying to escape the flames, he said.
Relatives and friends of those killed arrived Monday at the apartment complex looking for answers and mourning their loved ones.
They gathered with survivors in small clusters near the burned-out apartment building while Red Cross officials and members of Hispanic service organizations tried to comfort them and offer assistance.
``We're hurt because we feel more could be done,'' Ismael's sister Estanilada Noriega said in Spanish.
Two people, including a woman who jumped from a window, were released after treatment at Mount Carmel West hospital, a nursing supervisor said.
Ismael Noriega moved to Columbus four years ago to join two brothers, three sisters and numerous nieces and nephews. He worked for a landscaping company for about five years, and four of the other male victims started later, said David Peabody, president and owner of Peabody Landscape Group.
``I never saw Ismael without a smile on his face,'' Peabody said. ``On numerous occasions, he brought his kids in. He was a very proud father.''
The family enjoyed living in Columbus, but hoped to return one day to their hometown of Leon in the state of Guanajuato in central Mexico.
As part of a crew that can grow to 130 workers in the peak season, the five contributed ideas on planting techniques and did detailed construction for planters and retaining walls, Peabody said.
``They were a joy to work with,'' Peabody said. ``They did their job very seriously and made sure they did a good job.''
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