Three days after flames ripped through a Hampton home on Shell Road, fire investigators are now calling the case arson.
“I just hope whoever did this gets caught and punished because it could have killed all of us,” said Yvette Morgan, who lives next door on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Morgan was able to get her family to safety Sunday night, after a Good Samaritan knocked, alerting them to danger.
“Once we ran out, the flames were so hot, and firefighters were coming from everywhere,” said Morgan.
Fire investigators say several witnesses saw a group of people running from the area shortly before the flames broke out.
Some of them, according to Morgan, even left some evidence.
“My backyard, they left a hat, so maybe they can get DNA from that. Whoever did it wasn’t smart at all,” said Morgan, laughing.
What’s not funny, though, are the thousands of dollars in damage this arson next door is costing Morgan’s family.
“It damaged my roof, damaged my siding,” said Morgan.
This was the 5th intentional fire set in the City of Hampton since April--but investigators say none of them are related.
Police made arrests in each of those arson cases, except for this most recent one on Sunday.
“People are actually sick, people are sick, and they just don’t have nothing else to do but start a fire,” said Morgan.
Two different organizations are offering a joint $6,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest. If you know who started this fire, call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
