Firehouse.com

OKLAHOMA CITY --

An apartment fire in southwest Oklahoma City that killed three people early Tuesday was set intentionally, according to a metro fire marshal.

Marshal: Fire Was Arson

The fire official told Eyewitness News 5 that investigators are returning to the scene of the deadly blaze to re-interview people with whom they spoke earlier.

The blaze started about 2:30 a.m. at the building near Southwest 24th Street and Agnew Avenue at a house that had been turned into apartments. Flames were shooting from the windows of an upstairs apartment when crews arrived, forcing firefighters to work in defensive mode.

Crews fought the fire from outside the building because it was too dangerous to go inside the apartment, firefighters said.

Three people died in an apartment fire at Southwest 24th Street & Agnew Avenue at a house that had been turned into apartments.

At 2:45 a.m., firefighters called for a third-alarm so additional resources could be dispatched to the scene. Dozens of firefighters helped get the fire under control. A group of firefighters fought the blaze from the ground, and another crew scaled a truck's ladder to spray water from above.

Red Cross Helps Apt. Fire Victims

At least six other people were able to get out of the burning building with minor injuries.

Firefighters said a smoke alarm woke up residents living on the bottom floor of the apartment building.

The Red Cross is on scene helping two families displaced by the fire.

Copyright 2009 by koco.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.