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Greensboro Fire Department Investigates Blaze That Killed Five Children

Greensboro Fire Department officials give a news conference Monday updating the public on the blaze that killed five children. The fire is suspected to have started in the kitchen. BETHANY CHAFIN/WFDD

An apartment fire in Greensboro over the weekend killed five children and injured one adult. It's the most fatal fire in the city since 2002.  

At a press conference Monday, Greensboro Fire Marshall Timothy Henshaw said the victims consisted of three boys and two girls, ranging in age from 18-months to nine years old.

Henshaw added this is being treated as an accidental fire at this time.

“The fire began in the kitchen. Kitchen fires make up the majority of fires in our nation,” he said. “Over 60 percent of those fires are due to kitchens, and it's the fifth leading cause of death when it comes to fire.”

There were two fire alarms in the home that did not respond. The department is reviewing records and work orders from the property's landlord.  

Officials say they hope to have more definitive answers as to how the fire started by the end of the week.

(Ed.: Sean Bueter contributed to the web version of this story.)

Bethany is WFDD's editorial director. She joined the staff in the fall of 2012. She received her B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Wake Forest University. Between undergraduate studies and graduate school, Bethany served as the intern to Talk of the Nation at NPR in D.C., participating in live NPR Election Night Coverage, Presidential debate broadcasts, regular Talk of the Nation shows, and helping to plan the inaugural broadcast of ‘Talk of the World.' She enjoys engaging with her interests in books, politics, and art in the interdisciplinary world of public radio. Before becoming editorial director, Bethany was assistant news Director, a reporter and associate producer for WFDD's Triad Arts and Triad Arts Weekend. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Bethany enjoys calling the Piedmont home.

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