Arson investigation launched after man, woman suffer 'critical' injuries from West Baltimore fire

BALTIMORE -- A man and woman have been hospitalized after a fire damaged their home in West Baltimore on Tuesday. 

Now, police are investigating the fire at the three-story house as an arson. 

The fire started just before 9:30 a.m. in the 800 block of Edmondson Avenue.

A neighbor, who asked not to be identified, told WJZ that she woke up Tuesday morning to the sound of a smoke detector and unforgettable screaming.

"I heard her screaming and banging on the grate help her get out, help her," the neighbor said. "I screamed through the building to see if there was anyone who could help me help her."

That's when she said she realized her building was on fire and the neighbor who resided in the basement was trapped.

"People from across the street came over and got her grate off, and got her out, and pulled the guy who was with her out," the neighbor said.

By the time firefighters arrived to extinguish the flames, the man and woman had been pulled to safety from the basement window.

But neighbors said something didn't seem right.

"He had handcuffs, and his leg was bleeding, and his feet were taped," a neighbor said.

The man and woman were severely burned and taken to a local hospital in critical condition, according to authorities.

A 5-year-old child was found on a different floor of the house and taken to a hospital, too, fire officials said.

The child "appeared to suffer some mild smoke inhalation and was escorted out of the structure," Baltimore City Fire Department spokesman Kevin Cartwright said.

While firefighters extinguished the flames, people moved in. They created a perimeter around the area with crime scene tape and blocked off the street.

Now, arson detectives are working to figure out what happened inside of the basement.

Anyone with information should contact arson detectives at 410-396-2645.

Anonymous tipsters can call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7Lockup.