4 alarm fire engulfs 3 Fall River homes

FALL RIVER, Mass., (WPRI) - A four alarm fire ripped through three homes in Fall River on Friday afternoon, and now investigators are calling it arson.

The fire started at a home located at 170 Hood Street spreading to two nearby homes.  Investigators have not revealed the exact cause of the fire, but Saturday afternoon announced that the case is under investigation. 

A $5000 reward is being offered for information on the fire and officials are interested in any suspicious activity seen in the area around 4:00 P.M. Friday.

The blaze was so intense that one of the homes that was engulfed actually collapsed, leaving nothing but a charred mess.

"This is very upsetting. I just lost everything. I lost my cat. I lost everything. All I have is my kids and my girlfriend. My cat's dead. She's dead." one woman said sobbing.

Heavy winds are made it more difficult for firefighters to battle the inferno.

"I know I lost everything. I live on the third floor up there. It all started over there with the wind today, it blew everything into the house," one man told Eyewitness News.

Eyewitnesses say the flames could be seen from as far away as the Braga Bridge.

Residents are overwhelmed by the devastation.

"That's my house on the third floor. The van caught on fire, there was an argument and the house burnt down and now everything is burning down. I just moved in today, everything I own is in duffle bags. Right there where they are spraying the water is my room."

Officials at the scene say no one was injured.

Anyone with information about the arson is encouraged to call the Fall River Fire Department Arson Hotline at 508-324-2741 or the Arson Watch Reward Program at 1-800-682-9229.

Stay with Eyewitness News for the latest developments on this Breaking News Story.