Aunt of Warwick fire victim speaks out

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - On Wednesday, the state fire marshal's office said the most probable cause of the house fire at 343 Buttonwoods Avenue was wiring that was damaged during installation. Four young adults and a baby were killed during that February fire, and that tragedy has touched several communities across the state.

The families are still mourning the loss, months later. The images of the burnt out house is still vivid for Lisa Baldelli- Hunt, the aunt of victim Dan Janik.

Baldelli-Hunt says the loss of her nephew, his girlfriend, Amanda Villeneuve, and their baby girl Annabelle, is surreal.

"You just imagine the door is going to open and they're going to come home."

Tayla Lackey and Nick Jillson, along with Janik and Villenueve and her infant, all died of smoke inhalation the morning of February 6.

The state fire marshal's office said the cause of the fire was accidental, and that the problem started ten years ago when the house was re-wired. According to officials, it started in the first floor wall that separated the dining room and living room.

Although painful, Baldelli-Hunt said the investigation was thorough.

"They were determined from the beginning that they were going to take the time to make sure the findings were correct, and that was very important to our family. You certainly don't leave satisfied but you have a sense of satisfaction knowing the individuals who brought you the information were so professional and so thorough."

She also commends the firefighters that were first to arrive on the scene.

"They're human beings too and I'm sure it was very hard for them to go to the house that day and see what they had to see."

The victims were all asleep when the fire started that cold winter night, and even though the problem may have existed for years, the family that lives in the home may have never noticed the slow dangerous burn in the wall.

Baldelli-Hunt said, "What's the chance that it's that day. At that time. Why not a different day?"

The fire marshal's office is calling this type of fire extremely uncommon.