Federal investigators say an exhaustive six-month probe has found that wiring under a large Christmas tree sparked a mansion fire that spread so quickly a Maryland couple and four of their grandchildren couldn't escape, despite a functioning alarm system.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Anne Arundel County Fire Department released a report Wednesday that says there were numerous hazards identified at the mansion. It says the primary hazard was that while the castle-like mansion was residential, it was built like a commercial building.
Investigators concluded the blaze was accidental. The report says other potential causes were identified and analyzed, but all were eventually discarded.
The Jan. 19 fire near Annapolis, Maryland, killed Donald and Sandra Pyle and four of their grandchildren.