Investigators say the likely source of a fatal house fire two weeks ago in South St. Paul was the father’s cooking equipment in the garage.
Soeun Sem, 60, and sons Alexander, 5, and Eric, 1, died Oct. 13 of smoke inhalation from the fire at their home at 316 11th Ave. S. The boys’ mother and Soeun’s wife, Chanry Soeng, was at work at the time.
Propane cooking equipment was found in the area where the fire originated, according to the South Metro Fire Department. The garage door and the door leading into the house both were open at the time of the fire and likely allowed the smoke and flames to rush into the home.
“While there were working smoke detectors in the home at the time of the fire, it is probable that thick smoke and high heat conditions prevented the escape of all three victims from the second story of the home,” Assistant Fire Chief Mark Erickson said in a department news release Monday.
The fire, reported about 9 p.m., was deemed accidental.
