Fire investigators have not determined an exact cause for the fatal fire at 1424 E. Highland Ave. yesterday afternoon, Muncie fire investigator David Miller said.
The fire is still under investigation by the Muncie fire and police departments, Miller said.
"We do know that it originated in the living room," he said. "Most of the fire damage was contained to the living room. The kitchen, dining room and upstairs was damaged by smoke."
Miller said he has not eliminated arson from the list of fire causes, but it probably was not the cause.
"I never rule anything out," he said. "It's very unlikely at this point because there's no sign of flammable objects in the living room."
Usually flammable materials are the first clue to investigators that a fire may be an arson case, Miller said.
The police investigators have not found any conflicts between the facts collected at the scene and Melissa Bridges' story of events, he said.
Bridges is the mother of Joshua Jenkins, 15, and Corey Jenkins, 14.
Yesterday's autopsies confirmed the deaths of Joshua and Corey Jenkins were caused by smoke inhalation and thermal burns, Delaware County Coroner Jim Clevenger said.
Firefighters found the two autistic boys on the floor of the home's second floor, he said.
They performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the boys outside the home, then the boys were rushed to Ball Memorial Hospital, he said.
The boys were pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after their arrival, he said.
"We're not sure why the boys weren't able to come down the stairs when the fire started," Clevenger said. "The area where they were found was so oxygen deprived there's no doubt they died quickly from the smoke inhalation."
Clevenger said the autopsies showed no sign of foul play or that the boys started the fire in the living room.
"It appears to be a very tragic accident," he said.
At the time of the fire, Bridges and her two sons were in the Highland Avenue home, Miller said. The boys' stepfather and two other siblings were not at home, he said.
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