Having nowhere else to go ... with just the clothes on their backs ... Rachael and Victor Lockett are spending the night at the Economy Inn Motel in Northwest Fresno. Their Central Fresno apartment ... along with 27 other units was destroyed in a massive fire early Wednesday morning.
"We spent hard earned money in our apartment and now we're in a motel with nothing. It's sad," said Lockett.
In surveillance video obtained exclusively by Action News ... shows what appears to be the fire's origin. You can clearly see some type of explosion ... followed by fast moving flames that sent dozens of residents running for safety.
"I heard people banging on the door, and when I came outside, it was like everything was on fire," said Nicole Brown.
Arron Horn cried, "Yeah, they've said I lost everything."
Fire investigators will not say what exactly caused the blaze, but they have determined that it was not an accident.
Tony Escobedo with the Fresno Fire Department said, "Well, the investigation is underway. They do have some indication it was arson"
Shelley Levy, a woman who lives in the complex and who was supposed to be evicted Wednesday. Has been named a person of interest. Residents claim they saw levy take off from the scene carrying suitcases. Many also say they've complained about her bizarre behavior in the past.
Nancy Lozano said, "I even did a police report like 2 months ago, and they never took her away. So this could have been prevented."
And while many of the fire victims are left wondering the same thing ... others say they're trying to say positive as they figure out how to move forward.
"You just start over. You gotta keep moving. The world doesn't stop because a tragedy happened. You gotta keep moving," said Lockett.
The damage has been estimated at $1.2 million. A resident as well as a firefighter were treated for smoke inhalation ... but they are expected to be okay.
Fire officials say it's a miracle no one else was hurt.
