Porterville fire that killed two teens and their mother ruled accidental
The Porterville house fire that killed a mother and two teenagers in February has been ruled accidental, the Porterville Fire Department said.
The Fire Department said Wednesday that it completed its investigation into the fatal fire that occurred Feb. 4 at 351 N. Plano St. Two of the five residents who lived in the home were able to escape.
The fire originated on the first floor along a dining-room wall and living-room area. After ruling out multiple potential ignition sources, investigators said an electrical failure involving wiring was the probable cause of the fire. They found no evidence of anything suspicious.
“This is a devastating tragedy for the family and our community,” Fire Chief Bryan Cogburn said in a statement.
The Porterville fire and police departments responded at about 12:35 a.m. to the two-story residence near the intersection of Plano Street and Harrison Avenue. They found heavy fire on both floors, with people possibly trapped inside. Emergency workers conducted search operations through extreme conditions.
Firefighters located three occupants inside the burning residence. The victims, 35-year-old Gladis Plumlee, her 15-year-old son, CJ, and 14-year-old daughter, Sophia, were pronounced dead at the scene. Her husband, Chris, and oldest daughter, Anna, were injured but escaped with the help of police officers.
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According to the investigation, the balloon-style framing of the house, which was built around 1903, contributed to the fire spreading rapidly through concealed wall spaces and reduced the time for occupants to safely escape. The house was equipped with smoke alarms, and the two survivors told investigators they recall hearing the sound during the fire.
“This incident serves as a reminder of how quickly fire conditions can change, particularly in older residential structures,” Cogburn said. “Working smoke alarms, early notification, closing your bedroom door at night, and having an escape plan remain critical to improving survivability during a fire.”
Porterville is about 75 miles southeast of Fresno in Tulare County.
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