Several agencies, including the Lackawanna Police Department, are investigating a fire that displaced four families this past weekend. The fire is believed to be suspicious and may have been set intentionally.
The fire burned a home on Ingham Street, Saturday morning. The four families who lived there are Muslim.
Several people suffered from smoke inhalation and injuries from jumping out a second story window. Police are investigating to see if the fire was intentionally set.
The FBI is monitoring the investigation in case the fire turns out to be a hate crime.
The founder of Western New York Muslims is praising police for their work, and says it's vital to see how and why this fire started.
“It could be a tactic. It could be mischief. But, it is the thinking behind that. We have to say who would do that, why would they would do that and why would they target such a place,” said Faizan Haq.
The Erie County Sheriff's office is helping with the investigation. They hope to know by the end of the week whether or not this was arson.
