UPDATE: Victims named in Dennis fire that kills two people and dog, no working smoke detectors in unit

Zane Razzaq, Cape Cod Times
·1 min read

DENNIS — A man and a woman died in an early morning fire Sunday at a Niblick Street duplex where authorities said there were no working smoke detectors.

The victims were Edward Snell, 60, and Gina Champ, 63, according to Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois's office. The nature of their relationship was unknown as of Sunday evening, but both lived at the duplex.

Firefighters went to 3 Niblick St. at 6:52 a.m. where smoke was coming from the two-story wood-framed duplex. Crews entered the house, put out the fire and discovered two badly injured people. Both were taken to Cape Cod Hospital but later succumbed to their injuries.

A dog was also killed in the fire.

Fire truck at the home on Niblick Street in Dennis where two people lost their lives in a fire early Sunday morning. Dennis Fire Chief Robert Brown said the unit where the fire started had no working smoke detectors. The fire is being investigated by Dennis fire and police, the state fire marshal's office and state police.
Fire truck at the home on Niblick Street in Dennis where two people lost their lives in a fire early Sunday morning. Dennis Fire Chief Robert Brown said the unit where the fire started had no working smoke detectors. The fire is being investigated by Dennis fire and police, the state fire marshal's office and state police.

Galibois' office also said the cause of the fire does not appear to be suspicious, and that the office was not aware of the specific nature of the injuries suffered by each victim other than that they were associated with the fire.

The origin and cause of the morning fire are under investigation by the Dennis Fire Department, Dennis Police Department, and State Police investigators assigned to the offices of the Cape & Islands District Attorney and the state fire marshal.

“It’s too early to say how the fire started, but we know there were no working smoke alarms in the unit where it began,” Dennis Fire Chief Robert Brown said in a statement. “Please check your smoke alarms today to be sure they’re working properly on every level of your home.”

Aerial view of the house at 3 Niblick St. where an early morning fire on Sunday claimed the lives of two people.
Aerial view of the house at 3 Niblick St. where an early morning fire on Sunday claimed the lives of two people.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire to where it began.

Yarmouth Fire Department provided mutual aid at the scene while the Harwich Fire Department covered the station.

Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @zanerazz.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Dennis house fire claims lives of two people, no working smoke alarms