Coroner: 4 died of smoke inhalation at Utica house fire

A coroner says the four victims of Monday morning's fire in Utica died from smoke inhalation.

Oneida County Coroner Stephen Wolanin says the family likely died before the heat and flames consumed the second floor of the duplex.

Killed were a 32-year-old woman and her three sons — ages 4, 2, and 1. A fourth child, the woman's 9-year-old daughter, was at school when the fire broke out.

Fire Chief Russell Brooks says the mother might have had a brief chance to escape, but likely became trapped trying to rescue her children.

Although firefighters arrived at the scene within a few minutes, Brooks says the structure's original asphalt siding under the vinyl siding helped cause a rapid spread of the deadly flames.