Greensboro Fire Officials Say Unattended Cooking Was Cause Of Deadly Apartment Fire

Investigators say they've determined the cause of a fatal apartment fire in Greensboro. Five children died as a result of the blaze that broke out on Summit Avenue last weekend.

According to a press release, the fire started in the kitchen and has been ruled accidental.

“The City's Fire Marshal and Fire and Life Safety Division conducted their investigation using the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 921 guide, which sets the bar for scientific-based investigations into origins and causes of fires and explosions. After examining this fire scene, investigators determined the room of origin of the fire was the kitchen, with the area of origin being the range. Once the origin area was identified, the investigators narrowed the cause to unattended cooking and that the fire was accidental in nature.”

The names of the victims have not been released. The City Fire Marshall's office says the victims consisted of three boys and two girls, ranging in age from 18-months to nine years old. One adult was also injured, and later released from a local hospital.

Investigators say there were two fire alarms in the home that did not respond. The department is reviewing records and work orders from the property's landlord.