Five die in East Durham house fire

A house fire in rural upstate New York early Monday left five people dead and one hospitalized in critical condition — all believed to be from the same family.

Family member Cathy Ballone told the Albany Times-Union that the victims who died were her parents, Nicholas and Mary Mammano, and her brother John Mammano’s three young children.

The nearby Gavin’s Inn scheduled a church prayer service for the family Monday evening, saying John Mammano works at Gavin’s and was hospitalized with burns. Joe Mammano said via Facebook Monday evening that his brother John was sedated at a Syracuse hospital and was expected to recover.

“Today was the worst day of my life,” Joe Mammano said in another Facebook post. “I woke up to the news a fire took my family’s home.” He added, “My parents and both nephews and my niece perished.”

State police have not confirmed the victims’ identities. Autopsies were planned to determine the cause of death.

The fire broke out Monday morning in a home along Route 145 in East Durham. The house was reduced to a charred framework.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

On Sunday evening, John Mammano posted photos from the family’s Easter celebration on Facebook, saying, “It was a great day for sure. Now it’s bed time and I’m blessed with the thoughts of the day. Amen.”