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Last updated on Monday, October 19, 2015
(FREEDOM) - Over two months after a fire in Owen County killed three people, investigators released the final case summary.
According to investigators, the cause of the fire at 2609 Firecrest Lane is undetermined, and there is too much damage to determine a cause.
The PIO for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security released this statement:
Investigators with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) Division of Fire and Building Safety, reporting to the Indiana State Fire Marshal, have officially ruled the cause of the August 5 fire in Franklin Township, Owen County, as undetermined.
The ruling follows a comprehensive investigation.
The fire claimed the lives of three people - Dan Reynolds, his wife, Joy Reynolds, and her 11-year-old son, Bailey Little.
Early the morning of August 5, Owen Valley Fire Department Deputy Chief Joe Frye was driving to work on U.S. 231 when he noticed an orange glow and billowing black smoke in the distance. He called 911 at 6:06 a.m.
Joy Reynolds and her son were in the front yard, seriously burned over most of their bodies. Dan Reynolds was found on Dunn Road, where he had walked or crawled for help. An ambulance going to the scene came across him collapsed alongside the road.
Due to the destructive nature of the fire and the extensive damage to the structure, there was not enough evidence for investigators to determine a definitive cause or area of origin.
The investigation included IDHS, the Owen County Sheriff's Office, Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department, Shand Forensics, Donan Insurance and Electrical Investigation.
A propane gas explosion, initially suspected as a cause, has been ruled out. So has arson. The temperature inside reached more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit
"At this time we have no reason to suspect foul play," says James Greeson, Indiana State Fire Marshal. "Even with the effort and persistence of the investigators, the available evidence prevented us from arriving at a more conclusive final determination."
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