Remains Of 2 Victims Of Fire Found In Rubble In West Chester

WEST CHESTER, PA -- Human remains of two victims were found in the rubble at Barclay Friends Senior Center in West Chester on Tuesday in the wake of last week's catastrophic blaze. Two more individuals remain unaccounted for Wednesday.

Authorities did not identify the victims. They had previously announced that two of the missing are a husband and wife, aged 88 and 92, and that the two others are women, aged 85 and 93. It's not clear which were found on Tuesday.

The first victim was found in the late morning, and then another victim in the afternoon, authorities said.

“The thoughts and prayers of the men and women of ATF are with the families of the victims during this difficult time," Special Agent in Charge with the ATF Donald Robinson said. "Their losses only strengthen our resolve to provide answers to them as a result of our investigation of this tragedy."

Officials are using a large crane and other excavating equipment to sift through the rubble, and they expect to be on the scene through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

An investigation into the cause and origin of the fire is ongoing.

The search for the two remaining missing residents began anew early Wednesday.

The inferno began just before 11 p.m. last Thursday night and rapidly spread, becoming a five-alarm blaze. More than 400 first responders joined neighbors in the area in rushing into the building to rescue the residents, many of whom were in wheelchairs and had physical and mental issues.

A total of 137 residents were in the building when the fire began, in addition to 15 staff members. All but four were rescued.

At least 27 of those 137 were injured and hospitalized after the incident; eight remained hospitalized Monday.

Given the intensity, speed, and location of the blaze in a senior center with disabled individuals, authorities said they would have expected closer to 50 deaths.

The ATF is joined by the Pennsylvania State Police, Chester County Fire Marshal’s Office, and local authorities on the scene.

See Patch's previous coverage of the fire below:

>>4 Unaccounted For After Fire At West Chester Senior Home

>>Community Rallies After Devastating West Chester Fire

>>Massive Fire Destroys Pennsylvania Senior Living Facility: Video

Photo credit: Pete Bannan/Daily Local News via AP; WPVI-TV via AP