MASSENA, New York (WWNY/Gray News) – Authorities in New York are investigating a deadly house fire from Monday night.
Fire officials say they were called about a structure fire at about 10 p.m. Monday on Chase Street in Massena.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames, but they were also battling fierce winds that evening.
Witnesses said the fast-moving fire looked to have started at the back of the home and took firefighters around 40 minutes to get the bulk of it knocked down.
“It was incredibly thick smoke. I had never seen anything like it,” neighbor Doug Fregoe said.
According to neighbors, the fire went through the home quickly.
Sadly, a family of five died in the blaze: a mother, a father and three boys.
According to Massena Fire Chief Thomas Miller, a sixth person, a woman, also died later at an area hospital.
The three children attended schools within the Massena Central School District.
“Three of our students and their parents perished in a house fire. Our hearts are broken at the loss,” Superintendent Ronald Burke said.
The school district said Madison Elementary’s library is a place for the community to come and mourn and remember those who died in the fire.
“When you see the tears on adults, you know these kids were special,” Burke said. “Just unbearable, frankly, to lose one child is one thing; to lose three is a shock.”
Neighbors said the family will be missed.
“The kids all played together in the streets with skateboards and basketballs. They didn’t really bother anybody,” Sandy Deshane said.
Fire officials said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Representatives from the school district identified the family killed as the Bowens. Authorities did not immediately release the names of those lost in the fire.
According to property records, the home was owned by Diana Avery.
SOURCE: Live 5 News