ATHENS COUNTY, Ohio — The state fire marshal has closed its investigation into a deadly house fire in Athens County on Thanksgiving Day last year that took the lives of five people.
Officials said that upon completion of the investigation, authorities did not find any evidence to suggest that the fire was set intentionally.
They said the cause of the fire is officially undetermined and attributed to several possible factors within the residence, including improper use of electrical cords, alternate winter heating methods and hoarding.
The investigation included many interviews with individuals who might have had knowledge about the incident as well as an extensive examination of the scene.
The fire occurred on Nov. 23, 2023, around 8 a.m. at a house on Rainbow Lake Road in Athens.
When the fire was put out, five people were found dead. One person was able to make it out of the fire and they were taken to a hospital.
The Division of State Fire Marshal’s Fire and Explosion Investigation Bureau wants to remind all residents to ensure they have functioning smoke detectors in their homes, plug space heaters directly into an approved outlet and never daisy chain electrical cords.
RELATED: 5 killed in Athens County house fire