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Fatal apartment fire that left five dead declared arson case, suspect in custody

Posted at 2:22 PM, Mar 08, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-09 18:21:42-05

Officials now say a deadly fire on Detroit's east side was intentionally set.

A suspect is also in custody.

Detroit firefighters stayed on the scene of that fatal fire Wednesday for nearly 8 hours, searching for the cause.

Five people were killed, four others sent to the hospital after a group home was engulfed with flames near Whittier and Beaconsfield on the city's east side.

Investigators say the fire was fueled by strong winds.

They tell Action News a 61-year-old man was carried out of the fire, but later died at the hospital.

They are still trying to identify the dead.

Three men, ages 52, 67, and 70 were taken to the hospital, along with a 52-year-old woman.

Two have been released, two others remain there.

A man showed up late Wednesday night looking for an elderly, blind man who lives at the group home. He doesn't know if he's alive, and his wife has guardianship.

Investigators tell us some residents were forced to jump from windows for their safety. The ATF was also on scene looking for clues.