DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A woman has died in a massive overnight fire at a duplex in Deerfield Beach that authorities described as “suspicious,” leading them to issue a “be on the lookout” alert for the victim’s alleged boyfriend.

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue units responded to a residential fire along the 4300 block of Northwest Fourth Avenue after receiving several 911 calls, just after 4:30 a.m. on Friday.

“Upon arrival, firefighters were faced with very, very heavy smoke and flames coming from one side of a duplex,” said BSFR Battalion Chief Michael Kane.

Alicia Baiocchi, who lives across the street, said she woke up to the massive flames illuminating the street.

“I could see flames to the sky. It was just orange, every little – it was four little windows, and it was just orange,” she said.

Another area resident said he was also sleeping when he heard a loud explosion.

“I woke up around 5 in the morning. I heard like a big boom, and I looked outside my window, and I see the house right in front engulfed in flames, and I see all the neighbors outside,” he said. “About two minutes later the ambulance came, the firefighters and they’re taking out the fire.”

Baiocchi said she made sure her children were safe.

“I thought it was in my driveway. I have six kids. We grabbed the newborn, put her in the car seat,” she said. “It was intense. It happened very fast, yeah, and it was completely like – there was no way someone could survive that.”

Firefighters worked swiftly to battle the blaze.

“They made a rapid entry, a rapid knockdown of the fire, and found one victim deceased in a back bedroom,” said Kane.

The alarming discovery has sent shock waves throughout the community.

“The neighbor that wasn’t affected said he heard her screams,” said Baiocchi. “I was like, ‘Did she yell for help?’ He said he just heard screams.”

Baiocchi said the intense fire forced an emergency evacuation for the duplex’s neighbor.

“They had to climb out of their window, actually. The corner people, they said [they couldn’t get though their front door], and then the other side of their kitchen, no. They had to literally climb out of their window,” she said.

Ariana Hunter and Caleasha Harris, two members of that family, later spoke with 7News about their ordeal.

“I just yelled for everybody to get up and said there was a fire, grabbed my keys, my purse, phone, got to the front door, opened it up, couldn’t get out because of the flames,” said Hunter.

Hunter said she and her family went toward the back of the duplex.

“Opened it up, nothing but smoke, couldn’t get through there,” she said.

The family’s next option was a front window.

“I pushed out the screen, we made it out the front of the house,” said family member Caleasha Harris. “When we looked back, the window we crawled out of, it was a fire.”

According to fire officials, this family was able escape the fierce flames.

“Those folks in that apartment escaped unharmed. There was also a dog that was rescued,” said Kane.

“You know, it’s bittersweet, but as long as we have our life, and we’re together, we’re OK,” said Hunter.

Officials do not believe the fire was ignited by accident.

“An additional call is advising that the boyfriend set their house on fire,” a dispatcher is heard saying on the Broadcastify police scanner.

“At this time, the fire is considered suspicious in nature, but the cause of the fire is not being released at this time,” said Kane.

Firefighters were able to contain the flames to one section of the duplex, but the substantial amount of water used to knocked down the fire makes the family’s side of the residence uninhabitable.

The family members who were displaced are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.

“I feel like the world is a crazy place, and it shouldn’t have come to that extreme,” said Harris.

While the family didn’t know their neighbor closely, they can’t believe someone next door passed away.

“It’s sad, you know, I feel for the family. My prayers go out to them,” said Hunter. “You know, whatever happened, it didn’t make no sense.”

Hours later, a 7News crew saw K-9s that are able to smell accelerants at the scene.

Late Friday night, detectives with the Broward Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Ana Paula Ribeiro De Souza.

Friends of the victim posted condolences on Facebook. They also pointed the finger as to who could be responsible.

Detectives with BSO’s Homicide Unit and the state fire marshal have launched an investigation. They did not confirm whether there were screams coming from the duplex, but they did confirm the BOLO alert.

If you have any information on this fire that could help investigators, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

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