PORT ARTHUR - Three people have escaped from a fire at a boarding house in Port Arthur, and investigators say at this point it appears the fire is unrelated to a series of deliberately set fires that have destroyed at least seven vacant homes an a vacant apartment complex in recent weeks.
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The fire was reported at about 8 a.m. Thursday at a boarding house in the 3100 block of 11th Street in Port Arthur.
Firefighters say three people inside were able to safely get out. The Red Cross is helping the them find another place to stay.
The cause is under investigation.
One person who got talked about his escape with 6 Shooter L.D. Ray.
"I woke up and heard some popping noise and smelled like burnt leaves," said Jerry Franks. "So when I looked out of the windows I saw flames coming from the other side of the apartments. The first thing I tried to do is make a beeline to the front door and I couldn't because it was full of smoke. I went back to my room, closed my door, grabbed some clothes and jumped through the window."
Franks said after that he alerted two residents in the back to get out. Franks said a man driving down the street said they'd called 911 to report the fire.
The Port Arthur Fire Department, Police, and the ATF are investigating a series of deliberately set fires that have burned at least seven vacant homes and a vacant apartment complex in Port Arthur during the past two weeks.
3 escape burning Port Arthur boarding house
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