JAPTON, Ark. --
A Madison County couple died after their home burned down during the aftermath of the ice storm.
Investigators said they think the victims probably lost power and the couple may have triggered an explosion while trying to light a lamp or lantern.
Firefighters identified them as James West, 70, and his wife, Carol West, 65. James West's brother told investigators that the couple had bought lamp oil earlier in the day.
The house caught fire but the location was so remote and there were so many downed trees that firefighters couldn't reach the home until it was too late.
"It's a bad deal back in here," said neighbor Danny Parker. "You know, this doesn't ever happen around here."
Parker lives in Japton, a few miles down the road from the fire. He said he heard the crews rushing to the scene on Thursday morning.
"I saw the fire trucks go by the house about 2 a.m.," he said. "They was moving on."
Emergency crews faced huge challenges to reach the scene. The phone service was out so the 911 caller had to walk a half-mile to get cell service before he could alert firefighters.
The home was set nearly a half-mile from the property's front gate and tree limbs that were toppled during the storm blocked the path of larger fire trucks.
"It was pretty bad. Lots of trees broke down and all the power's out," Parker said. "They burned, I don't know how much gas in their chainsaws clearing the roads and stuff."
One of the volunteer firefighters said it took nearly an hour for crews to clear the rugged terrain so that engines could get through. By then, the home had been destroyed.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
