51 year old /*Shelley Levy*/ is wanted for questioning in the arson which caused nearly $4 million in damages and left 15 families homeless in Central Fresno.
Fire investigators say this was deliberate. They are still looking for Shelley Levy. As investigators continue to collect clues, they have plenty of questions for the woman who neighbors say abruptly left her unit as her apartment, and 27 others went up in flames.
Investigators are analyzing surveillance video which Action News obtained Wednesday. It shows the explosion and flames leaping into the air. Investigators are trying to determine the chain of events. One thing they have determined is how the fire began.
Shandy Solis with the Fresno Fire Department explained, "In one of the units, one of the units inside, we did have a flammable liquid that had been poured throughout the family room of this particular unit. As far as the details of how that liquid comes into play with the explosion, we're not able to release that just yet."
Action News has learned Fresno Police were called out to Levy's apartment May 3rd to check on her welfare. Neighbors told Action News Levy had been acting strangely in recent weeks. By the end of May she was served with paperwork evicting her from the complex. On Wednesday sheriff's deputies were prepared to remove Levy and lock her out, but before they could, much of the complex was destroyed and she was gone.
Fresno County Sheriff's Office, Chris Curtice said, "I know that at eight o'clock that's when it was supposed to take place but obviously the fire was well underway at that time."
Investigators are asking for the public's help to locate Levy. They are also reaching out to authorities beyond the Central Valley.
"We have released several requests for information for various law enforcement agencies and fire departments with a description of her and to contact us with any information. That information was also distributed to multiple agencies in the Bay Area as it's our understanding she may have some ties there," said Solis.
Action News did contact Levy's father Thursday. He was also listed on her rental agreement. He declined to comment about the situation.
Thursday night eight of the 15 families left homeless are moving back into other vacant units in the same complex. Several other families are looking for alternative places to live.
