The Carbon County Coroner’s Office has identified the five people who died in a fire late Tuesday night in Franklin Township.

At 12:21 a.m. the Carbon County Coroner’s Office was requested to respond to 56 Willow Street, Franklin Township, Lehighton, for a reported structure fire.

Initial reports confirmed entrapment inside the residence. Despite every effort by firefighters and emergency services personnel to safely and efficiently rescue the five people who were trapped inside, those efforts were unsuccessful.

On Thursday, autopsies were completed at the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office & Forensics Center in Allentown.

The victims were identified as Aida Marrero, 37, who died from smoke inhalation and thermal burns; Kaylee Quevedo, 14, who died from inhalation of products of combustion and thermal injuries; Nathaniel Wheelock, 1, who died from inhalation of products of combustion and thermal injuries; Aiden Wheelock, 5, who died from smoke inhalation and thermal burns; and Matthias Wheelock, 6, who died from inhalation of products of combustion and thermal injuries.

The manner of death was ruled an accident.

“This is a profound and heartbreaking loss not only to the close-knit community of Franklin Township, but to the entire county. We recognize that family members are mourning and working to process this unimaginable tragedy. Please know that the community stands with you during this difficult time,” Deputy Coroner Jason Smith said.

The residents on the other side of the duplex escaped injury.

The house was a total loss and will be demolished.

“This investigation is being conducted jointly by the Carbon County Coroner’s Office and the Pennsylvania State Police. We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to the first responders who bravely battled this fire, and to the community for the overwhelming outpouring of support shown to the family during this time of grief,” Smith said.

The Pennsylvania State Police said that through investigation, the Troop N Fire Marshal Unit determined no suspicious circumstances regarding the house fire at 56 and 60 Willow St.

When troopers and firefighters arrived just before midnight, the home was fully engulfed on the first floor and rear of the second floor. The mother, three boys and one girl were trapped inside.

Franklin Township fire Chief Lynn Diehl said a critical incident stress management group that provides support to people affected by traumatic events held a session Wednesday night at the Franklin Township Fire station.

Diehl said firefighters remained on scene until just before 7 a.m.

He said at that time the cause of the fire was unknown, and that a fire marshal was on scene.

Diehl said also assisting at the scene were the Lehighton Fire Department, Parryville Fire Department, Bowmanstown Fire Department, Mahoning Valley Fire Department, Towamensing Township Fire Department, Jim Thorpe Fire Department, Aquashicola Fire Department for its cascade system, and Lehighton Ambulance.

The investigation remains active by the Pennsylvania State Police Lehighton Criminal Investigation Unit along with the Troop N Fire Marshal Unit.

Lehighton Area School District issued an announcement early Wednesday morning about the students.

“Late last (Tuesday) night and early this (Wednesday) morning, our community suffered a tragic loss in a house fire,” Lehighton Superintendent Jason Moser said in a statement Wednesday morning that counseling is being offered for students.

“Tragedies such as this are incredibly difficult and felt very deeply throughout the entire community,” Moser said. “It is at times like this that we as a community need to be caring and thoughtful about how each other may suffer from the impact of this loss.

“These are also the times when strong communities, such as the Lehighton Area School District, closely come together to positively support one another, and I have no doubt that we will do just that in order to help our community through this difficult time.”