Investigators Say Fire Responsible for Deaths of Five Children Near Williamsburg, West Virginia

Fire is to blame for the deaths of five children in their home near Williamsburg, ranging in age from one to seven, according to Greenbrier County Sheriff Bruce Sloan. The children’s mother was found dead in the yard outside of the house, but investigators have not yet released her cause of death.

Sloan explained the findings during his recent appearance on MetroNews’s Talkline program.

Said Sloan, “We have a lot of evidence. We have information that has led us to reach a certain conclusion from the findings. We would like confirmation from the Medical Examiner’s Office from some of this information.”

The children were in the two-story home located on Flynn’s Creek Road when the fire began. The home burned completely. Police do not believe there is a third-party involved in the incident.

Investigators were still at the scene two days after the fire searching for the not-yet-located remains of the fifth child after the medical examiner raised questions about what had been found the night before.

Sloan says the continued search is not a reason to believe that any of the children survived. He explained, “We just want to make sure with confirmation from the Medical Examiner’s Office that all five confirmed. We just want to make sure we are accounting for all five of the children.”

West Virginia Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Cause of Fire

The State Fire Marshal has stepped in to investigate the cause of the fire. Sloan believes the investigators will have answers eventually despite the structure burning completely.

He also said that the incident has been very difficult for the community, especially for students and faculty at Frankford Element School where three of the five students attended. Greenbrier County Schools is providing grief counseling to those who need it. First responders are also struggling with the event. Sloan described them as “very somber,” and called it a “difficult situation for everyone involved.”

The names of the children and their mother have not yet been released to the public, but they will be once the ME completes its examination.

If you have information about this incident, you are asked to contact the West Virginia Fire Marshal’s Office. If you have questions about injuries sustained in a fire, contact Heavens Law at 888.897.5377.