Lakeview Fire Was Considered Accident -- Until Security Video Surfaced
(CBS) -- Residents of a Lakeview condominium building are outraged an alley fire that ravaged their homes might have been set intentionally.
Three days after the fire left the 3046 N. Sheffield Ave. building water-logged and burnt, security video shows three people in the alley just minutes before the early-morning blaze erupted.
Two of the people pause at the trash cans for about a minute and a half, during which their activity appears to cause brief flashes.
"My wife's scream is what woke up our neighbor, who hadn't heard the alarm yet," a building resident tells CBS 2's Brad Edwards. The resident asked to remain anonymous.
At first, the occupants thought the blaze was some type of accident. Then they reviewed the security video.
"That's the first time we experienced anger in this whole process is when we saw that video and realized these guys could have killed us easily," the resident says.
Chicago police were investigating the scene. Neighbors say in the past year there have been similar suspicious fires.
Anyone with information about the fire should contact Dectective Viti from the Chicago Police Arson Section, at 312-746-7618.