On Jan. 5, the Philadelphia Fire Department responded to the call about heavy flames in apartments in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia. Firefighters found massive flames in a kitchen on the second floor.

Investigators  have confirmed that it was a sparked Christmas tree that started the fire.

Investigators did not clarify if it was started by a child playing with a lighter. The child was said to be playing with a lighter by the Christmas tree.

Investigators thought it might have been a blaze that was sparked after a child accidentally set a Christmas tree on fire. Firefighters said the apartment building had no working fire detectors.

Family members identified some remains of the victims from the aftermath.

Rosalee McDonald, and her six children were victims of the fire that morning.

 On Jan. 17, there were funeral services for the nine children and the three adults. Services were held at Temple University’s Liacouras Center. At the service, people at the funeral listened to three hour services of Bible readings.

At the funeral services they also listened to proclamations of music and some of the family members gave eulogies about their lost loved ones. 

“We’re in a space of grief and pain we wish on no one else,” said the Reverend Dr. Alyn Waller of the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church.

Investigators now have confirmed that it was a sparked Christmas tree that started the fire, but did not clarify if it was started by a child playing with a lighter.

A speaker, an aunt of one of the deceased children, tearfully spoke and said there was “a family reunion in heaven.”