Staff photo / Ed Runyan This is the duplex at 210 E. Midlothian Blvd. on Youngstown’s South Side that was damaged by an arsonist early Sunday. Three children and two adults escaped from the home with minor injuries. Furniture from the home was still in the front yard Monday afternoon. The side that was damaged, on the left, was boarded up.

YOUNGSTOWN — Investigators say a 3:30 a.m. Sunday East Midlothian Boulevard duplex fire that sent a mom and three children to the hospital with minor injuries was arson.

The fire at 210 E. Midlothian near Erie Street was caused by two Molotov cocktail-type incendiary devices being thrown into the house, investigators said.

The mother and three children were taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital for evaluation. Their injuries were minor, Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley said. The fire caused a lot of damage to the front porch and front room, Finley said.

A Youngstown police report states that Boardman police discovered the fire and heard people inside the unit. They evacuated a man, woman and three small children. Police discovered evidence at the home indicating it had been fire-bombed, the report states.

Youngstown’s fire investigator, Kurt Wright, carried out an investigation into the cause.

Youngstown police, meanwhile, found that the man, Brandon Stores, 35, of Princess Street in Campbell, had warrants charging him with a parole violation related to an underlying cocaine-possession charge and a misdemeanor fleeing and eluding charge.

Stores was taken into custody. During a search, police found a bag in Stores’ pocket containing 45 grams of apparent cocaine. He was charged with a first-degree felony offense and taken to jail.