At least six people died in an east
At first, authorities said two people died after fire broke out before
About
Names, gender and ages of the victims were not released.
“”There is no information regarding outstanding suspects or persons of interest in this case and the origin of the fire has yet to be determined,”” said
Neighbors in the Countryside Woods neighborhood said they were awakened by an explosion.
“”I ran out barefoot,”” said
Neighbor
“”The blast happened exactly one hour later,”” he said.
“”We all ran out. My fiancee (
“”We heard the boom,”” Claybin said. “”The whole street lit up. … I was hitting the car to get the alarm to go off.””
A man, his wife and three children had vacated the house about six weeks earlier, neighbor Larsen said. The man had come back several times, she said. There was “”strife in their life,”” Larsen added.
She said the wife was not a victim because she was able to reach her on the telephone about
Learning that at least six had died, neighbor Claybin said, “”I’m really kind of in shock.””
She said she fears children died. She said she believed six children were at the house off and on in the past.
“”It makes my heart just drop,”” Himes said after being told at least six died. “”That there really could be children. … All of us in the neighborhood had been worried about children.””
Larsen knew the family but declined to provide names, citing her desire to give them privacy.
“”The fire was initially threatening a nearby home. Crews deployed hose lines to provide exposure protection to the threatened home, attacked the fire and performed a search,”” Moen said.
The blaze was under control at
“”It’s just emotionally tragic for the family,”” Moen said. “”This has left a mark on everybody who is working on it.””
The street of well-kept homes swarmed Sunday afternoon with investigators with the
On Sunday afternoon, Larsen said, “”A very large thanks to the fire department because they saved the house closest to the fire (east side). And they were very cautious to make sure our house was protected. They saved many people’s homes.””