Victims of fatal Chesapeake fire identified, cause ‘undetermined’

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — Two bodies were recovered after a two-story detached garage caught fire Thursday morning in Chesapeake.

On Monday, investigators identified the victims as Chantele McGurn and Jacob Lister. Both were 25 years old.

Firefighters say the blaze broke out around 5 a.m. in the 900 block of N. Haven Circle. When crews arrived on the scene, they found heavy fire coming from the garage.

Assistant Fire Marshal Steven Bradley said the victims’ bodies were transferred to the Medical Examiner’s Office for positive identification.

The investigation into the cause of their deaths is ongoing.

Bradley said investigators know the owners of the main house and have been in contact with them, although the main house wasn’t affected. Capt. Steve Bradley confirmed Jacob Lister is related to the homeowners.

Crews say least one of the two bodies was located on the second floor of the structure, making it hard to recover. Firefighters were eventually able to safely remove the bodies for them to be given to the medical examiner.

On Thursday afternoon, the Chesapeake Fire Department said the cause of the fire has been ruled as “undetermined.”

The incident is being investigated as an unnatural death and is not a criminal investigation.