ALBANY, NY — Five people died in a house fire that authorities have ruled was arson.
The Albany Police Department and fire department responded to a fire on Twiller Street near South Bertha Street around 10:42 a.m. Monday.
Officers and firefighters arrived to find the residence fully engulfed in flames with several people still inside.
Erick DeCamp, 52, of Albany, a 3-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy were transported to Albany Medical Center Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
Eric Peterson, 47, of Albany, and a 6-year-old girl were recovered from the residence and pronounced dead at the scene.
The names of the juvenile victims will not be released.
Two unoccupied residences on each side of the burning home sustained damage from the flames.
Investigators from the Albany Police Department, Albany Fire Department, New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control and the Albany County District Attorney’s Fire Investigation Team determined the fire was the direct result of arson.
The incident is being investigated as a homicide.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Albany Police Detective Division at (518) 462-8039.
Anonymous tips may be submitted online to the Capital Region Crime Stoppers at www.capitalregioncrimestoppers.com or through the free P3 Tips mobile app.
