Officials said smoldering embers blamed for a fire in Stamford that killed three girls and their grandparents had been taken out of a fireplace so the children would not worry about Santa Claus coming down the chimney.
Two officials briefed on the investigation said the ashes were removed out of concerns for Santa, according to the Associated Press.
They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Tuesday because the investigation is still under way.
Authorities said embers in a bag of discarded ashes started the blaze Christmas morning that killed Lilly, 10, and 7-year-old twins Grace and Sarah Badger and their grandparents, Lomer and Pauline Johnson.
The girls' mother, Madonna Badger, escaped the fire along with a friend, Michael Borcina.
Dominic Carella, vice president of the Frank Campbell Funeral Home, said a private wake will be held Wednesday at the funeral home in Manhattan.
A funeral service open to the public will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Several Stamford firefighters will be attending, fire department officials said.
A private service will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery for all five victims.
Carella said funeral plans for the grandparents, Lomer and Pauline Johnson, are still being worked on.
