WARREN, Ohio - The state Fire Marshals Office is looking for a person caught on camera setting a home on fire in Warren.

First calls for the blaze at a home on Porter Street NE went out after 7 a.m. Sunday morning.

Firefighters arrived to find the front of the house fully engulfed in flames.

Ring camera video from the front door shows a person in a hoodie and sunglasses walking up to the home with a cigarette in their mouth and a cup in their hand, ringing the door bell and then going to sit down. The video given to 21 News then cuts off but the fire marshal believes the person intentionally started the fire using a t-shirt from a clothes line on the porch. 

When the video comes back you can see the same person run away. The fire marshal believes the suspect was surprised at how quickly things went up. 

"It was like a burst into flames the house just started melting,” Jordan Carter, who lives across the street said. "I don’t even know what to think. It’s just crazy."

A 21 News crew on scene spoke with officials who said three people made it out of the home and fire crews rescued a dog that was inside. One person made it out without an injuries.

"The other two occupants had to dive out of a window both of them went out the same window to escape because the fire was extending so quickly,” Chief Ken Nussle for the Warren City Fire Department said. 

A neighbor said one person had to punch out the second story window and jump, falling onto a van. That person remains hospitalized with a broken pelvis.

Firefighters almost had the blaze out at one point but ran into difficulties because of the amount of items and debris inside the home.

 

"THE CREWS DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB," Warren Fire Department Captain Brandon Gaines said. "THE FIRE WAS ALMOST OUT COMPLETELY AT ONE POINT BUT THERE WAS HEAVY HOARDER CONDITIONS INSIDE. THE FIRE WAS IN THE ATTIC AND INTERIOR WALLS THAT WE COULDN'T QUITE GET TO AND DUE TO THAT THE FIRE CONTINUED TO GROW AND THAT'S WHAT LED TO THE SITUATION."

Eventually the home was in danger of collapsing and crews were pulled from the structure.

The home has been deemed a total loss. The once three story building has now been reduced to just a basement and ash. 

The State Fire Marshal did not give any information on a possible motive. There is a $5,000 reward for information on the person in the video. Tips can be called into 1-800-589-2728.