Light Fixture Blamed for Fire that Killed 3 in Virginia
A James City County fire official says a light fixture is the probable cause of a house fire that killed three people.
Fire department District Chief Bob Ryalls tells The Daily Press that the Jan. 11 fire likely began in a ground-floor laundry room next to a staircase to the second floor.
Authorities have identified the victims as 53-year-old Douglas Johnson Sr., his 54-year-old wife, Sara Johnson, and their 24-year-old son, Douglas Johnson Jr. Ryalls says all three victims died from carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of smoke inhalation.
Police helped another son escape the blaze through a second-story window.
Ryalls says there were no working smoke detectors in the house.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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