Gas can in living room one of many pieces of evidence in arson that could've killed man
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Gas cans, lighter fluid and homemade fire bombs? They are the new clues unveiled in an ongoing arson investigation. The fire nearly killed one man -- and neighbors near 84th and Townsend are on edge.
It's not hard to spot the house affected near 84th and Townsend. Broken windows and charred siding are what remains after the fire Monday, April 21st.
"There was seven fire trucks here and nine squad cars. It's new to the neighborhood, that's for sure," a neighbor said.
Neighbors in the area asked that their identities be protected as this investigating continues.
Investigators believe the cause of this fire to be arson.
A 41-year-old man remains in the hospital. His father spoke exclusively with FOX6 News on Thursday night, April 24th.
"He was trying to get out, but he couldn't get out because he was trapped in. Why would somebody do that?" the man's son told FOX6.
A search warrant obtained by FOX6 News says just before the fire, a neighbor spotted a person in a hooded sweatshirt throw a flaming object into the home.
When police arrived on scene, they found evidence of multiple Molotov cocktails around the home.
As hours passed, police could not locate the tenant of the rented home.
The search warrant says on the outside of the home, a red gas can was spotted in the trash and lighters were found around the property -- as were a couple cans of lighter fluid.
Also retrieved were glass jars full of flammable fluid and a cloth wick.
Inside the home, investigators found a gas can in the living room.
Neighbors are wondering what the gas can was doing there -- as the victim's father hopes arrests are soon made in the case.
"Sooner or later maybe the police will find out -- and they will be caught," the victim's father said.
The man who was injured told investigators he came to the home for an Easter barbecue, but he didn't feel well, and fell asleep upstairs.
It is unclear what happened to everyone else who stayed at the home. Neighbors tell FOX6 News it was always a full house.