A survivor of Thursday’s deadly arson fire in a Biddeford apartment building remained in critical condition Saturday.

James Ford, 21, is being treated at Maine Medical Center. He and his roommate Michael Moore, 23, were found unconscious by firefighters early Thursday in their third-floor apartment at 35 Main St.

Moore died Friday at the Portland hospital and investigators are now treating the case as a homicide. The state medical examiner had not determined the cause of Moore’s death as of Friday, although Stephen McCausland, the spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, said it appeared likely that it was smoke inhalation.

Investigators said a fire was set in the only stairwell that connected the ground floor of the building with two upper stories. Officials said there were other serious safety violations in the building in addition to the lack a fire escape, including smoke detectors that did not appear to be working.

The fire displaced 25 residents.

Edward D. Murphy can be reached at 791-6465 or at:

emurphy@pressherald.com


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