This Rumford house burned early Sunday morning. Swastikas and a racial slur were also tagged on the side of the building.

E. Providence police photo

EAST PROVIDENCE — A mother and her three young children escaped their Rumford home early Sunday morning after someone spray-painted swastikas and a racial slur on the outside and set it on fire.

Calling the fire disturbing, city and state fire officials and city police said they would prosecute the arson as a hate crime and offered a $5,000 reward for information that leads to convictions.

They also said a trailer fire on Sept. 23 about a half-mile away in the normally quiet Rumford section is linked to Sunday’s house fire. That blaze engulfed a fully loaded trailer that was backed up to a commercial building.

The building had been tagged with swastikas a few weeks before the trailer was set on fire. Three firefighters were injured fighting the fire, one of whom is missing work because of his injuries.

“These are two very serious crimes,” state Fire Marshal John “Jack” Chartier said at Tuesday’s press conference in the city’s North Broadway fire station. “... The crime itself, coupled with the racial connotations, brings the incidents to the top of our list.”

“This could have been a tragedy,” added Police Chief Joseph H. Tavares.

He and city Fire Marshal Oscar M. Elmasian said a “petroleum-based accelerant” was used in the house fire. Elmasian said a police officer was first on the scene, around 12:30 a.m., and put out the fire quickly with an extinguisher from his cruiser; the fire would have spread to the attic if the officer had arrived 30 seconds later.

Chartier also said the fire was started in front of a stairway leading to a back exit, suggesting the arsonists “intended to keep the people from getting out of the house.” There is another exit at the front of the house.

“This is far from being a prank,” Tavares said. Given the time of the blaze, the chief said, “This family could have easily been sleeping.”

There was significant damage to the home, but it is still habitable. Elmasian also said the family — who Tavares said are “mixed with African-American ties” — is “shaken up,” so police and fire personnel are making numerous visits to the home.

City and state officials refused to release the specific addresses of the residence or commercial building, saying it was necessary for the safety of the family, which has no ties to the commercial structure.

Tavares said the police have several leads, which he would not disclose.

Under state law, first-degree arson carries a jail sentence of five years to life in prison. A hate crime conviction can add an additional one to five years to the sentence.

The public can call the arson hot line at the state fire marshal’s office at (401) 462-4242, with any information.

apina@projo.com