HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — Two people have died after a house fire early Thursday morning in Henrico's East End.
Henrico Fire officials said a neighbor reported the fire on Elkridge Lane near Mechanicsville Turnpike around 2:20 a.m. Firefighters were on the scene within minutes.
They made entry into the home and attempted to rescue all of the residents. Officials said one person died at the hospital, while another person was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials said a third person escaped without injuries. They added a fourth person who lived there was not in the home at the time, but was unaccounted for until Thursday evening. However, officials have not released details regarding the fourth person's circumstances and where they were found or condition.
One neighbor said she called 911 after hearing a person yelling for help and several rounds of popping noises coming from the home.
"I just seen the lights flashing off the blinds, so, I happened to open the door and I've seen the whole block was lit up," added Joseph Davis.
Henrico Fire Batallion Chief Henry Rosenbaum said it's unclear if the house had working smoke detectors.
"We are right in the middle of the holidays. It's tragic to us, to the family, to the neighbors and friends and family. We just hate to see this," Rosenbaum stated. "We always want to remind folks that working smoke detectors make a difference."
Investigators with the Henrico Fire Marshal's Office, Henrico Fire, and Henrico Police went door to door speaking with neighbors in the pouring, cold morning rain.
The back of the single-story home in the quiet neighborhood was charred. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Davis and his neighbors moved on the same Elkridge Lane block back in 1968. He said the victims were like his close family members as he grew up with the family.
"Good people. Always willing to lend a hand and help anyone in this neighborhood," Davis stated. "It’s a sad tragedy that our neighbors would die in their own house. It’s sad."
This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can email newstips@wtvr.com to send a tip.
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