Three charged with setting Charlestown apartment on fire over drug debt

Boston Police charge three men poured a flammable liquid under the door of an apartment on Medford Street early this morning, then lit it, starting a two-alarm fire:

Heavy fire quickly filled the apartment forcing the residents to escape out the window.

Although the fire did not spread past the first-floor apartment, smoke spread throughout the nine-apartment building. Several residents had to be treated for smoke inhalation.

James Burrell, 32, of Charlestown, Dashaun Lanair James, 32, of Charlestown and Daniel Grayson, 28, of Roxbury were all charged with arson, police said, adding additional charges are expected.

Police say the fire came after Burrell had an argument with a resident of the apartment. After the fire, police say, officers quickly tracked the three to an apartment on Decatur Street:

The officers approached the residence and the suspect's wife answered the door. Based on intelligence received, the officer asked to speak with "James". His wife stated that James was sleeping in his bedroom. The officer was led to the bedroom where the suspect, James Burrell, was laying in bed shirtless and shoeless. The officer asked the suspect what he had been doing and where he last came from. Burrell indicated that he had been sleeping for the last several hours.

Meanwhile, officers stopped a Nissan, with Grayson and James, leaving the scene.