The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Remains of 4 victims found in rubble
WEST CHESTER » The remains of all four residents who had been unaccounted for in the aftermath of the inferno at the Barclay Friends senior living community have now been recovered, officials said Wednesday night.
The remains of two victims were found Tuesday. Officials from the federal Bureau of
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Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who have been on the site sifting through the rubble said the final two victims’ remains were found Wednesday inside the charred shell of the Barclay.
None of the victims have yet been identified.
ATF investigators located the remains of the first two victims on Tuesday while excavating the south wing. Recovery efforts continued Wednesday in the south wing, where investigators believe the fire started. That’s where the two additional victims, officials said.
The victims were transported from the scene by the Chester County Coroner and the families of the four missing residents were notified by West Chester police Chief Scott Bohn. The Chester County Coroner now will attempt to identify the victims and notify the families accordingly.
ATF officials now said their focus will shift from recovery to determining the origin and cause of the blaze. Fire investigators planned to remain on the scene through the Thanksgiving holiday, along with supporting laboratory analysis personnel.
“Investigating a fire of this size is truly a team effort,” said ATF Philadelphia Field Division Special Agent in Charge Donald Robinson. “We appreciate the dedication of our personnel as well as all of the state and local partners who worked tirelessly to thoroughly investigate this fire to find the remaining victims and attempt to determine the fire’s origin and cause. We hope with the recovery of the four victims these families can now start to heal and that we can provide some closure for them.”
“The thoughts and prayers of the men and women of ATF and all of our emergency responders are with the families of the victims during this difficult time. Their losses only strengthen our resolve to provide answers to them as a result of our investigation of this tragedy” said Special Agent in Charge Donald Robinson.
The massive fire tore through the complex Thursday night, Nov. 16. More than two dozen people were injured and 133 residents were displaced.
Federal investigators remain on the site; the focus now will be on trying to determine the origin and cause of the fire.
All but four of the 137 residents of the home escaped the 50-foot high flames that roared through the structure, officials said.
Mayor Jordan Norley spoke in somber tones