Two people have died in a house fire in East Lyme, according to fire officials.
Firefighters responded to 13 Willow Lane just after 8 a.m. after receiving a call from a passerby who spotted the fire at the home.
They entered the home and pulled one victim from the house and rushed that person to the hospital. That victim, whose identity has not yet been released pending notification of next of kin, was later pronounced dead at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital.
Firefighters continued to search the home and found a second victim who was pronounced dead at the scene, fire officials said. Police have identified that victim as 95-year-old Merril Lazanov.
Get Connecticut local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Connecticut newsletters.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined both people died from smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. Their deaths are ruled as accidental.
Firefighters from at least eight surrounding towns assisted with fighting the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Office of the East Lyme Fire Marshal, East Lyme Police Department Detective & Patrol Divisions, and the Connecticut State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit.
Local
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox.
