A young man's discarded cigarette ash sparked the house fire that killed his parents and two sisters in Carmel, N.Y., officials said Thursday.
The May 1 fire killed Larchmont Capt. Thomas Sullivan Sr., his wife, Donna and their two teenage daughters. The 20-year-old son escaped.
Officials said the son, Thomas Sullivan Jr., had been smoking near the front porch, where the ashes were tossed.
"We asked him, you know, 'Does anybody in the house smoke, have they you know, been outside anywhere smoking?'" said Lt. Brian Karst of the Carmel Police Department. "Right away he told us that yes, that he was a smoker, that he had smoked outside."
The ashes smoldered for several hours before plastic lattice attached to the house caught fire, and the blaze spread, officials said. The house was quickly consumed in a fireball.
A coroner said the victims died from smoke and carbon monoxide.
Police said the son was told Wednesday night that his cigarette ash was the cause.
Get the latest from NBC 4 New York anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Get our apps here and sign up for email newsletters here. Get breaking news delivered right to your phone -- just text NYBREAKING to 639710. For more info, text HELP. To end, text STOP. Message and data rates may apply.
