NEWCOMERSTOWN, Ohio — More than 100 residents from Newcomerstown Village held a prayer vigil in front of Christ United Methodist Church after the Christmas holiday took a dark turn early Monday morning when six people died in a house fire.
According to Mayor Pat Cadle, police and firefighters responded to a structure fire in the 400 block of Spaulding Avenue around 1:30 a.m. Upon arrival, crews found the home fully engulfed in flames, the mayor said. Multiple agencies were called in to render mutual aid.
It was later discovered that six people perished in the blaze, the Tuscarawas Medical Examiner's Office said. The names of the victims will not be released until all family members ahem been notified.
Dana Amore, who is a close friend of the family of six killed in the fire, told News 5 the family was always generous and very involved in the community.
“I can’t thank them enough for the one and support that they have given my daughter and my grandson, I’m going to miss you guys so very much," Amore said. “Both of them were always there to help anybody, they would give you their last penny they were there to help.”
Community leader Daniel Bias told those gathered at the vigil he's confident the community will gather together to help everyone deal with this huge loss.
What it takes for a community to get over something like this is a community that is going to inspire one another," Bias said. “A community that is willing to grab their neighbors hand and take a hold of them and let them know that even though right now it’s really, really hard that they’re not alone.”
The cause of the fire hasn't been determined and is currently under investigation by the State Fire Marshals Office.
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