CINCINNATI — A man is facing charges after a woman died Monday night following an apartment fire in Kennedy Heights.
Cincinnati police charged Stephen Lawson, 62, with murder and aggravated arson.
Cincinnati police identified the woman killed as 70-year-old Regena Mazion.
Fire Chief Michael Washington said crews responded to a fire at a three-story apartment building on Woodford Road at around 10:40 p.m. Monday. When they arrived, they found heavy fire on the first floor with residents trapped above.
According to Washington, firefighters searched for victims while working on the fire. During a secondary search, Mazion was found dead on the first floor.
The fire is under investigation. The cause is undetermined. Washington said one additional person suffered a minor injury. No firefighters were hurt.
"Smoke can permeate the rest of the property and cause a problem with people breathing. Carbon monoxide and other toxic gases are a product of combustion so just making sure that we got through the entire building and searched every nook and cranny to make sure we did not miss anybody. That's the challenge at night, a lot of people and heavy fire conditions upon arrival and people requiring rescue," Washington said.
Washington said there is "extensive" damage to the lower level of the building.
At least 20 people were displaced with 6 of them needing assistance from Red Cross, the fire department said.
Cincinnati Police Department's Homicide Unit is continues to investigate the deadly fire. Anyone with information about the homicide is urged to call the Homicide Unit at 1-513-352-3542.
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