WARREN, Ohio - New information on how Thursday's deadly fire in Warren started.
Six people, including four children, died inside a Warren home early Thursday morning. A stuffed animal memorial stands in the front yard.
The fire marshal says a charcoal grill started the fire that took their lives. Now Chief Ken Nussle tells 21 News the preliminary investigation revealed one of the victims, Derek Dorsey, arrived home very early Thursday morning and used the grill prior to going to bed.
"We're getting some information that the grill, the charcoal grill, could have been used as late or early as 3:00 or 3:30 in the morning. And given the nature of the damage, we felt the fire had been burning for at least 20 to 40 minutes prior to notification," Nussle said.
Derek's fiancé Audrey Johnson, their kids Ariel Dorsey and Derek Doresy, Jr. and nieces Miracle Hugley and Ja'Niece Hicks all died in the fire.
Any loss of life is difficult for firefighters to deal with, but losing six people at once is overwhelming. "You can see it in everybody's faces and eyes. You know it's hard. And people say its part of the job which it is, but it does take a toll on you," said John Jerina, Warren Fire Investigator.
Especially for the firefighters who have children of their own. "i think everyone has a different threshold for dealing with traumatic situations like this. It all depends on the makeup of the firefighter himself," Nussle said.
The Dorsey's did not have a smoke detector in the home. Nussle said that would have significantly increased their chance of survival. He says the fire department has free smoke detectors for anyone who wants one.
