The fire that destroyed a three-story building in Lorain is now being called suspicious by Safety Director Dan Given.
The State Fire Marshal was at the scene Monday to investigate the cause of the fire. The fire started just after midnight Sunday.
RELATED: Building fire on Broadway Avenue in Lorain displaced nearly 20 residents
Flames quickly spread through the apartment building.
Residents made it out safely, but two residents had to be rescued by firefighters from the second story.
Broadway Avenue remains closed between Seventh and Eighth streets because there’s concern the burned out building could collapse.
Business owners in that area said customers believe they’re not open for business.
Marilyn Lopez, owner of Sun Novelty, which sells back to school supplies, is open and she said customers can use the alley out back.
“Customers think that we are closed, because both ends of the streets are blocked off, and this is the busiest time of the year for the teachers and we do have a back parking lot off of Eighth Street, but a lot of people aren’t aware of that, so we are trying to get the word out that it is open,” Lopez said.
City officials did not say when Broadway might reopen.
