Cause of fatal Chaffee fire to remain undetermined

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Chaffee Fire Chief Sam Glency and the Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office have left the cause of a fatal June 22 house fire undetermined. Glency said Tuesday the fire at 121 Black Ave., started in the living room, but fire investigators couldn't determine what exactly caused it. There was no accelerant detected.

"There was no reason to think there was any foul play," Glency said.

Andrew Biler, 21, and Bryton and Jaden Nicholson, ages 2 and 3 years old, all died of smoke inhalation due to the fire. A fourth person, the toddlers' grandmother, also Biler's mother, was injured in the fire. Glency said the last he heard from the family was that the woman was recovering from small burns to her hands and the side of her face.

A fire that injured a man in his 50s on July 6 at 508 N. 3rd St., has been ruled accidental. Glency said the man was cooking bacon on the stove and fell asleep. Firefighters rescued the man from a back bedroom. Glency said the man is doing well and staying with a member of his family.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

121 Black Ave., Chaffee, MO

508 N. 3rd St., Chaffee, MO