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UPDATE: Thousands Mourn Fire Victims

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Reporter: Associated Press

Fatal Fire In Charleston
Death Toll Reaches 9 In Charleston House Fire

UPDATE: 4/1/2012 4:50 PM

ST. ALBANS, W.Va. (AP) - On Saturday, thousands mourned the victims of the deadliest fire in more than half a century in Charleston.

They crowded into Maranatha Fellowship Church on Saturday to
remember six of nine victims of a house fire last weekend in the
capital city.

The services in St. Albans were for 26-year-old Alisha Carter-Camp and her children, 8-year-old Keahana, 7-year-old Bryan Timothy, a 3-year-old Jeremiah, along with two of Carter-Camp's nephews, 3-year Elijah Scott and 18-month-old Emanuel Jones.

According to media reports, the Rev. Darren Powell told mourners
that any death is tragic, but the loss of so many is such a heavier toll to take.

The service attracted family from all over the country.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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UPDATED: 3/29/2012

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A Charleston fire official says the cause of a house fire that killed nine people likely will never be known.

Based on preliminary findings, Assistant Fire Chief Bob Sharp tells the Charleston Gazette that the fire will be ruled "undetermined."

Two adults and six children were killed in the fire. A seventh child died a day later after family members removed him from life support at a local hospital.

The landlord of the house, Delores Shamblin of Mammoth, has said she ordered eight smoke detectors installed last fall.

Sharp says investigators found three smoke detectors inside the house. One either didn't work or was improperly installed. The others weren't installed.

He says it's possible the fire burned other smoke detectors.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

UPDATE: 3/25/12 1:03 PM

Seven-year-old Bryan Timothy Camp was taken off of life support between 8:30 and 9:00, Sunday morning.

Alisha Carter-Camp, Alex Seal, Keahna Camp, Jeremiah Camp, Elijah Scott, Emanuel Jones, and twins Kiki and Gigi were also killed when a fire broke out at a house on Arlington Avenue about 3:30 Saturday morning.

Alisha and Alex were the only two adults. The children's ages ranged from 18 months to eight years.

The only survivor was 24-year-old Latasha Jones Isabell.

Investigators say the fire does not appear to be suspicious. They believe it started on the first floor, in the front of the home.

They say the victims died of smoke inhalation.

There was only one smoke detector in the home and investigators say it was not installed properly.

The home is a rental property. The landlord lives in Mammoth, West Virginia and Mayor Danny Jones says last month the landlord agreed to the inspection. The inspector went to the home, but Alisha wasn't there and one of the children asked for him to come back when she was there.
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UPDATE 3/24/12 @ 4:27p.m.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Investigators do not believe arson is a factor in a fire that killed eight people overnight in Charleston, including six children.

In a press conference Saturday afternoon, Mayor Danny Jones, along with several other city leaders released more information regarding the fire.

The fire started about 3:30 a.m. Saturday on Arlington Avenue.

We now know the name of all the victims in the fire:
Alisha Carter-Camp - 26 years old
Alex Seal - adult
Keahna Camp - 8 years old
Jeremiah Camp - 3 years old
Elijah Scott - 3 years old
Kiki - 3 years old
Gig - 3 years old
Emanuel Jones - 18 months old

There was one adult survivor of the fire. Mayor Jones says she is Latasha Jones Isabell, 24.

Bryan Timothy Camp also survived the fire and is listed in critical condition at CAMC Women's and Children's Hospital. He is seven years old.

Mayor Jones said that emergency responders were on the scene of the fire within two minutes of the call. WSAZ has requested the 911 calls from Metro 911.

It has been reported that there was only one smoke detector in the home and it was not properly installed. During the press conference Mayor Jones said that on February 28, a city building inspector stopped by the home on Arlington Avenue, but Alisha Carter was not home and a juvenile asked for the inspector to come back at a later time when she was available.

At this time, investigators believe that all of the victims were asleep at the time of the fire and died of smoke inhalation.

They believe the fire started in a front room on the first floor.
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UPDATE 3/24/12 @ 1:16 p.m.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- We now know the name of one of the victim's in a fatal fire that killed people eight overnight.

Rusty Eaton, General Manager of the Holiday Inn Express on Civic Center Drive in Charleston, says Lisa Carter's mother called him this morning, confirming her death.

Today would have been Carter's 26th birthday.

Eaton said Carter had an infectious smile and was well-liked.

Carter, another adult, believed to be her boyfriend, and six children died in the fire that started about 3:30 a.m. Saturday in a home on Arlington Avenue.

Carter lived at the home with her children and her sister's children.

It is believed the group got together to celebrate Carter's birthday.

Charleston Mayor Danny Jones says the house is a rental property and is owned by Delores Shamblin of Mammoth. Jones say city code required multiple smoke detectors in the house. Only one was found by firemen and it was improperly installed under a cabinet.

One child did the survive the fire, but is on life support at CAMC.

No other names are being released at this time.

All of the children were under the age of eight.

Mayor Danny Jones tells WSAZ.com this is the worst fire in the city since the 1940s, when 11 firefighters died fighting a fire in the Woolworth Building.

Officials with the city fire investigation unit, West Virginia State Fire Marshal and the ATF are on scene to determine the cause of the blaze.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Charleston Assistant Fire Chief Bob Sharp confirms eight people have died in an early morning house fire.

The fire was reported about 3:30 Saturday morning at a home on Arlington Avenue in Charleston.

Sharp tells WSAZ.com that two adults and six children under the age of eight are dead.

Sharp says a woman and a baby were injured and taken to the hospital. There's no word yet on their conditions.

No names have been released at this time.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.