Investigators believe a weekend fire that destroyed a Bridgeport body shop and displaced nearby residents was set intentionally.

“We do suspect arson,” Bridgeport Fire Marshal Joseph Carr said. “However, it’s still under investigation. We're still doing our due diligence.”

A $2,500 reward is being offered through the Connecticut Arson Tip Line for information that leads to an arrest in the Sunday morning inferno. The Bridgeport fire department responded to Bros Custom Car Clinic on Connecticut Ave. at the intersection with Union Ave just after 12 a.m. The building had several cars inside and burned for hours, prompting an all-hands-on-deck response.

“It's an automotive garage full of accelerants, full of gasoline, oils, tires, things of that nature—all highly combustible items—so that's what contributed to the volume of fire,” Carr explained.

It forced the people in the apartment building next door to flee.

“It was terrifying. Everybody was everywhere screaming, running,” recalled Cassandra Maldonado. Maldonado was visiting her mother, who lives in the building, at the time.

“We were all scared. We were, you know, all together on the corner, waiting to see what happens to this building,” added Marta Rivera.

PRIOR REPORTING: 14 people displaced following overnight Bridgeport fire

Crews prevented the apartment building from going up in flames, but major water and smoke damage displaced the building’s 14 residents. Some were gone for just a few days and able to return after their hotel stay from the American Red Cross ended.

“My apartment doesn’t have too much damage, so they let me come back yesterday,” Rivera told News 12.

But other people, like Maldonado’s mom, will be out indefinitely. The three apartments closest to the fire, including hers, are uninhabitable. For now, she's moved into an open apartment in the building.

“Everything is destroyed. Furniture’s destroyed. Beds are destroyed,” Maldonado explained. “The ceiling in her room collapsed. The living room ceiling also collapsed.”

None of the families in the building has renters’ insurance, according to Maldonado and Rivera. They said those impacted the most included two children with special needs and a young woman with sickle cell disease. A fundraising effort is now underway to help those families figure out what's next.

Investigators, too, are turning to the public as they continue to try to piece together this suspected arson.

“We're just asking the community to be patient with us. Work with us,” Carr said. “If you have any information, come forth.”

Carr couldn’t reveal why investigators suspect the fire is arson or where it began.

“We're working with Bridgeport PD as well, so at this juncture, I can't disclose too many details because it’s ongoing,” Carr explained, adding investigators are still talking to people and gathering footage.

Anyone with information can call the Connecticut Arson Tip Line at 800-84-ARSON, the Bridgeport Fire Tip Line at 203-576-7853 or the Bridgeport Police Tip Line at 203-576-8477.

Tohelp out the families affected, click here.