Was it arson?

Search warrant says spread of fire on Broadway is ‘suspicious’

The rapid spread of fire inside of 700 Broadway in Lorain, could be a sign of suspected arson because of three locations where the blaze was started, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in Lorain County Common Pleas Court.

Meanwhile, city officials said thanks to a local couple who showed heroism and compassion at the scene of the blaze.

The building at 700 Broadway, known as the Thistle Block or the Thistle Building, was gutted when a fire broke out early hours Aug. 6.

Residents escaped, but the brick building was damaged beyond repair and has been knocked down.

The Lorain Fire Department has not named a suspected cause, which remains under investigation.

However, the Lorain Police Department obtained a search warrant to look for evidence of possible “arson and criminal damaging,” according to the warrant.

The warrant does not state the fire was set intentionally, but it outlines reasons why responding firefighters became suspicious about the blaze.

The three-story building was occupied by nine tenants on the first floor and two on the second floor, according to the search warrant.

When fire broke out, seven of the nine first-floor residents, and both of the second-floor residents, were there.

“Multiple tenants on the first floor noticed the fire,” said a police affidavit filed with the search warrant. “The tenants on the second floor saw smoke.

“When firefighters arrived, they saw fire visible on first floor, on the south side of the second floor and on the west side of the third floor, which indicated that there were three different sources of the fire.”

The fire appears to be suspicious, the search warrant continued, “because there is no explanation how the fire started in three separate locations and spread so rapidly in the short amount of time,” the search warrant continued.

An evidence inventory sheet filed with the warrant listed “fire debris” from three locations of the building, collected by Investigator Jeff Koehn of the Ohio Division of the State Fire Marshal.

All evidence was submitted to the state fire marshal’s forensic lab for analysis.

It was unclear when there could be a determination on the cause of the fire.

Common Pleas Judge Mark Betleski signed the warrant Aug. 9, a day after the building was secured.

Koehn’s evidence sheet was dated Aug. 24, and the search warrant return was filed at the courthouse Sept. 7.

Meanwhile, Lorain City Council and the city administration this month said thank you to a couple who alerted firefighters about the blaze and helped keep the building tenants safe.

Lorain residents Sharon and Pat Salkiewicz received a city resolution commending their quick actions early the morning of Aug. 6.

Pat Salkiewicz attempted to get into the building to assist a woman screaming from a second floor window.

He could not enter due to the flames, but Sharon Salkiewicz remained in the smoke-filled street, calming the woman who was worried about her pet, and urging her to remain there until help arrived.

“This action expedited the rescue efforts for the firefighters, who arrived on the scene and took control,” the resolution said.

Firefighters used ladders to rescue two residents from the burning building just as the roof collapsed.

“When firefighters arrived, they saw fire visible on first floor, on the south side of the second floor and on the west side of the third floor, which indicated that there were three different sources of the fire.”

— A police affidavit filed with the search warrant.