Authorities say the deaths of four people in a fire in an area apartment earlier this year have been ruled accidental.
The Lehigh County coroner's office made the ruling Tuesday following what it called “an extensive investigation” into the March 17 fire in Emmaus, Pa., about 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
The coroner said the bodies of 48-year-old Melissa Twining, 16-year-old Montana Twining, 56-year-old Lena Marie Adamo and 65-year-old David Jenkins Jr. were found inside the building at S 5th Street. The coroner says they all died of thermal injuries and smoke inhalation.
Police said the fire, which started on the third floor of the residence, didn't appear to be suspicious and there was no evidence of criminal activity.
Residents who live nearby say they heard explosions shortly after the blaze began.
“I heard that it could have been gas related,” said Scott Schwartz. “The explosion came out the front window. Twenty minutes after that the roof was on fire.”
Kelly Furlong told NBC10's Daralene Jones that the building was once a funeral home that her family ran until it was converted into an apartment complex.
"It was always home to me," said Furlong. "It's home and it's gone."
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Michael Aldinger helped rescue some of the victims of the fire. He says that while he would have liked to do more, the smoke got to be too much.
"I tried helping them but there was too much black smoke," said Aldinger. "I heard a couple people screaming inside the house."
