Authorities can't say for certain what caused the Granbury mobile home fire in March that killed six people who had fallen asleep after a night of partying.
Granbury Fire Marshal Brian Fine said Tuesday that investigators narrowed the cause to two possibilities -- a faulty lamp and a cigarette -- but could rule neither out. As a result, he said, the cause has been ruled "undetermined," and the case was closed.Officials have said that friends from Fort Worth were at a party at Calvin Reineck's home in the 4500 block of Wildwood Circle, about 40 miles southwest of Fort Worth, while Reineck's father was out of town. Early on March 6, nine people fell asleep at the house while Reineck's sister, Celeste, drove others back to their homes in Fort Worth.On her way back to Granbury, Celeste Reineck struck a tree about 5:45 a.m. and was taken by helicopter ambulance to a Fort Worth hospital.About 30 minutes later, fire broke out in the mobile home's master bedroom, "on or around the north side of the bed," according to a news release from Fine. The fire was "the result of the introduction of a competent ignition source to the bedding material." The ignition source could have been a clamp-style utility lamp or an improperly extinguished cigarette, he wrote.Three people escaped, but the others died.The dead were identified as Calvin Reineck, 18; Alexis Schooley, 17; Vivian Rodriguez, 18; Nick Evans, 19; Savannah Marrero, 16; and Tim Moran, 30.Toxicology tests found that several of the victims tested positive for alcohol, marijuana and other controlled substances, and high levels of carbon monoxide were also in their blood, all of which likely contributed to their inability to escape the fire.Celeste Reineck has been released from the hospital and is recovering from her injuries.Melody McDonald,817-390-7386Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
