LEBANON, Ohio -- The fatal fire in Warren County that took the lives of three adults has been ruled arson, according to Ohio State Fire Marshal Investigators along with the Lebanon Fire and Police Departments. The announcement came Tuesday morning.
The fire, which took place at 213-215 Walnut Street on Oct. 19, was reported at 2:33 a.m. Investigators found no working smoke detectors.
According to a investigators, all accidental causes were ruled out and the investigators say that they have evidence that the fire was intentionally set. Investigators say the fire originated in the lower level of the structure and then spread to the rest of the building, however, since the fire has been determined as a criminal act, no further details about the crime will be released.
A reward of $5,000 is being offered for information leading to the identification of the person or persons responsible for the the fire. Those with information should call the State Fire Marshal’s Fire & Explosion Investigation Bureau at 1-800-589-2728.
The identities of the three adults who died as a result of the fire are still undetermined.
A woman who said she knew two of the victims told 9News they worked for the homeowner, Jerry Crisp.
Crisp was the Lebanon Fire Chief in the 70's and early 80's.
Court records show Crisp owns several homes in Lebanon and city records show he had been warned of code violations, including no working smoke detectors and no water at the house in the past. City leaders say Crisp informed them he would no longer have tenants at the address.
Investigators with the State Fire Marshal's Office are trying to sort out if the Crisp knew people were living inside.
Fire investigators are looking into two similar fires in buildings owned by Crisp. One fire in 1997, was at a swimming pool supply store and the cause was later ruled undetermined. The other fire, in 1999, was at a home on West Warren Street. It's unclear what caused that fire.
