COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio --
Officials said a fire that claimed the lives of two Colerain Township firefighters was an accident.
State fire marshals said Monday that they were turning over the investigation of the fire to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, which will conduct a criminal investigation of the fire.
Authorities said the fire was not deliberately set, but a criminal investigation was standard procedure for any fatal fire.
Investigators said the fire's cause was electrical in nature, but they did not elaborate.
Officials said that when the first engine arrived, Capt. Robin Broxterman spoke to the home's owners and was told there was no one inside.
Broxterman was told that the fire was in the basement, and her last transmission indicated that she and firefighter Brian Schira were going down to the basement, officials said.
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