One person died and two others were seriously injured in a house fire in Montebello early Thursday, with police now investigating possible arson.
Multiple detectives and arson investigators with the Montebello Police Department are working on the case, according to a news release from the agency, which cited “suspicious circumstances” surrounding the fire.
At approximately 4:30 a.m., Montebello Police received a 911 call reporting a house fire in the 100 block of South 5th Street, Montebello Police Chief Luis Lopez said at a news conference from the scene Thursday morning. Further reports indicated that “somebody probably started the fire,” he said.
He said when officers arrived, the house was on fire and a man and woman were outside with burns. After this the officials requested the fire department for help.
The man, who parked two blocks away from the home, tried to leave the scene despite his injuries, but officers stopped him, Lopez said.
He and the woman were taken to the hospital and were listed in critical condition, Lopez said. Detectives are now investigating whether the fire was the result of domestic violence.
None of the fire victims could be identified.
