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State Fire Marshal Releases Update on Fatal Defiance House Fire

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DEFIANCE, OH (WOWO)  The Ohio State Fire Marshal has released new information in the investigation of a deadly house fire in Defiance that claimed the lives of two women.

According to the Ohio Department of Commerce and the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the fire broke out around 4:12 a.m. on January 13 at a home in the 200 block of Ruth Ann Drive. A 58-year-old man and two women, ages 61 and 62, were living in the house at the time.

WTOL reports the man was sleeping in the basement when he was alerted to the fire by a smoke alarm and barking dogs. Officials say heavy smoke prevented him from reaching the second floor, where the two women were sleeping in separate bedrooms.

Fire crews extinguished the blaze and later found both women deceased inside the home. Their identities have not yet been released and are pending confirmation from the coroner or local officials.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office says the cause of the fire remains undetermined. Investigators reported no evidence of foul play or suspicious activity.

Defiance fire officials previously said the home was occupied by three siblings and that the incident shifted from a rescue effort to a recovery operation due to the severity of conditions inside the house.

The investigation into the fire remains ongoing.

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