Triple fatal fire was accidental, authorities say

Columbus Division of Fire investigators announced Wednesday that a March 24 house fire that killed three family members on the Far West Side was accidental. But they were unable to pinpoint a cause.

The early-morning fire at the split-level house in the 5100 block of Cherry Creek Parkway North killed Jennifer Dickerson, 44, Abigail Dickerson, 16, and Connie Moore, 64, who was Jennifer’s mother and Abigail’s grandmother. All three were taken to local hospitals, where they died from burns and smoke inhalation.

Ted Dickerson, 46, Jennifer’s husband, escaped and was the only one to survive. He had burns on his head and back.

There were no working smoke alarms in the residence owned by the Dickersons.

The Fire and Explosives Investigative Unit determined that the fire started on the home’s back porch.

However, because that area was so heavily damaged, investigators couldn’t identify which of a number of potential ignition sources could have sparked the fire, according to the Fire Division release.

Investigators said there were no signs that the fire was intentionally set.