Victims of Barclay Friends fire ID’d

WEST CHESTER » The Chester County Coroner’s Office has identified the individuals who perished in the fire at Barclay Friends Senior Home in West Chester. The victims have been positively identified as: Mildred E. Gadde, Theresa J. Malloy, Delores G. Parker and Thomas F. Parker. The Parkers were a married couple who resided at the Barclay.

The cause of death for all four individuals was attributed to smoke inhalation; the manner of death is still under investigation.

Officials at the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms have set a press conference for this Thursday at 3 p.m. in its Philadelphia headquarters.

Investigators have all but ruled out any thought of individual criminal activity being involved

in the devastating fire at the Barclay Friends Senior Living Community, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said Monday.

“There is no evidence now of any foul play,” said ATF Public Information Officer

Charlene Hennessey. She noted, however, that the investigation continues into the inferno that swept through the 20-yearold senior facility on North Franklin Street on the north side of West Chester Borough earlier this month. Interviews are still being conducted and laboratory analysis completed ahead of the planned press conference in Philadelphia.