The smell of smoke still hung low in the Neshaminy Creek valley in Middletown Wednesday afternoon as fire investigators lead by Fire Marshal Jim McGuire combed through the remains of the house that burnt Tuesday night, killing a couple who lived in the home for decades.
The investigation into what caused the long-burning fire inside the old farm house is still ongoing and will likely remain so until toxicology tests are completed on victims Raymond and Caroline Jenkins, both in their 60s.
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Members of the fire marshal’s office were seen behind yellow tape taking photographs of the area and looking through the remains of the house, which was built some time around 1740 and had at least two later additions. McGuire said his crews would likely be finished their on-scene work by the end of the day.
Raymond Jenkins was found on the first floor of the home in the 300 block of North Elmwood Avenue and Caroline Jenkins was discovered in a second-floor bedroom, the fire marshal told LevittownNow.com.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Caroline Jenkins was transported to St. Mary Medical Center before succumbing to her injuries and Raymond Jenkins was pronounced dead at the scene.
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Firefighters were called to the house around 8:15 p.m. Tuesday night and made their way up the dirt road to the house to work to put out the fire.
“They were always such nice and quiet people,” neighbor Chris Heinz said as firefighters worked to douse the flames. “I saw the fire and ran outside but by then the firetrucks were already here. They got here so quick.”
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Family members of the Jenkins were at the scene Wednesday afternoon.
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