The Hamilton County coroner has released the names of the three people who died in the Jan. 17 house fire in Cincinnati’s Spring Grove Village, confirming what neighbors had feared. The victims are Mary Ann Schwartz, 68, her son, Sol Archambault, 32, and her daughter, Aislynne Coffaro, 23. Fire crews found two victims on the first floor and pulled a third from the second floor, and all three later died from their injuries. Officials say the cause of the fire is still under investigation as the tight-knit neighborhood grieves.
The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office publicly identified the victims on Feb. 9, according to WKRC Local 12. The station reported that the fire broke out at a home on North Edgewood Avenue and that investigators are still working to determine what sparked the deadly blaze.
Family Says Mother Ran Back Into Burning House
Relatives say Schwartz was cooking dinner when the fire erupted. She reportedly ran outside to get help, then turned around and ran back into the burning home in an effort to reach her children, according to FOX19. Her son, Dylan Schwartz Archambault, told reporters that his brother and sister were adults with disabilities and thanked neighbors who rushed over and tried to help as the home burned.
Fire Crews Describe ‘Not Survivable’ Conditions
First-arriving firefighters encountered heavy fire tearing through the first floor of the house, and officials said conditions inside were “not survivable” by the time crews made entry. Roughly 60 to 70 firefighters were called in to battle the blaze, and it took around an hour and a half to bring the fire under control, according to WCPO.
Investigation Continues As Neighbors Seek Answers
The Cincinnati Fire Investigation Unit is still working to pinpoint how the fire started and has not yet released an official cause, per WKRC Local 12. Neighbors say the lack of answers has left many residents on edge. Authorities have estimated about $250,000 in damage to the home, and relatives have launched a family GoFundMe to help with expenses, according to FOX19. Earlier coverage of the deadly blaze detailed the immediate shock and sorrow that swept through Spring Grove Village after the fire.
