BEDFORD HEIGHTS, Ohio — Investigators with the Ohio State Fire Marshal's office have ruled a fire in Bedford Heights earlier this week as arson and are offering a reward for information that leads to the capture and conviction of those responsible.
According to a release, Bedford Heights firefighters responded to a call of a fire at a four-story commercial high-rise building in the 5300 block of Northfield Road at about 1 a.m. on Tuesday. When crews arrived, they discovered fire coming from a first-story window.
Additional fire personnel from Maple Heights, North Randall, Solon, and Highland Hills also responded to the scene.
Fire officials point out "although the building is a commercial property, multiple individuals were found to be living in the basement office units."
Maple Heights firefighters rescued several children from one of the units. Officials add that everyone was able to evacuate the building without injury.
Investigators also shared surveillance video footage showing "two individuals walking inside the building near the first-story unit where the fire originated and also leaving the building. Both individuals were wearing hoods, masks and gloves. The video also shows one of the individuals to be holding what appears to be lighter fluid."
You can watch the video below.
The Ohio Blue Ribbon Arson Committee is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Anyone with information is urged to contact the State Fire Marshal’s tip line at 800-589-2728.
"All tips will be thoroughly investigated," the marshal's office says.
One of the business owners in the plaza tells 3News the fire has put her and several other businesses in a tough financial situation.
"It's impacted everybody in that building, because nobody can work there," said Tarsha Ivy, owner of House of Beautiful Locs. "I don't know if people quite understand the severity of this, because as people in the beauty industry, if we're not working behind the chair, we don't make money."
While no one was hurt, physically, this has wreaked havoc on businesses.
"By my salon being right next to where it happened ... I got the extent of the water damage and the smoke damage," Ivy explained.