ATHENS — Authorities investigating a Thanskgiving Day fire that killed five people in Athens County could not determine the cause of the blaze but reported that there was no evidence that it was intentionally set, according to the
state Fire Marshal’s Fire and Explosion Investigation Bureau.
Investigators with the bureau, along with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office and Coroner’s Office concluded that the fire that destroyed two joined single-wide mobile homes on Rainbow Lake Road could be attributed to several possible factors, including improper use of electrical cords, alternate winter heating methods, and hoarding, bureau spokesperson Andy Ellinger said.
Firefighters arriving at the scene on Thanskgiving morning found the structure completely engulfed in flames.