CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — Almost side by side, Charles and Theresa Jones died together.
The couple died after a fire Thursday night at their Supplejack Court home — a home which did not have working smoke detectors, a fire department spokesperson has confirmed. No other residences were affected, and there were no additional victims. Charles Jones was 65, and Theresa Jones 66.
Two people are dead after a fire Thursday night at a home in the 400 block of Supplejack Court (Photo – Chesapeake Fire Department) 
Two people are dead after a fire Thursday night at a home in the 400 block of Supplejack Court (WAVY Photo – Corby Slaughter) 
Two people are dead after a fire Thursday night at a home in the 400 block of Supplejack Court (WAVY Photo – Corby Slaughter) 
Two people are dead after a fire Thursday night at a home in the 400 block of Supplejack Court (WAVY Photo – Corby Slaughter) 
Two people are dead after a fire Thursday night at a home in the 400 block of Supplejack Court (WAVY Photo – Corby Slaughter)
The call came in at 10:49 p.m. as multiple neighbors reported a fire in the 400 block of Supplejack Court and the first units arrived eight minutes later.
While on the way to the fire, firefighters learned that two people were possibly still inside, according to Capt. Steven Bradley, assistant fire marshal and public information officer. When they arrived, they found a two-story house with heavy fire showing on the first floor.
Multiple crews went into the home with hoselines to find victims and perform a fire attack.
Firefighters found the couple on the first floor of the home, both dead, Bradley said.
“They were inside the house, doing firefighting operations, (and) they did locate two victims,” Bradley said. “Both were on the first floor, right close to the front door.”
They did not run out the back door, for reasons that will remain unknown.
“Sometimes in an emergency, you kind of forget, maybe you have other means of egress,” Bradley said, “and they were probably trying to go to the closest place that they knew that they could get out … and that’s where most of the fire was.”
And without working smoke detectors, it likely made the effort to get out more difficult.
“We want to remind people the importance of having working smoke detectors in your house,” Bradley said. “Early notification means everything. The faster you’re notified of a fire, the better chances you have of getting out safely. So, it’s important enough that you have smoke detectors, but even more so that they work.”
The fire was declared under control at 11:18 p.m., and investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire, Bradley said. The Medical Examiner’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are helping in the investigation.
Chesapeake investigators think the fire started on the left part of the front porch and reached to the second floor.
“We know for certain that the fire started on the front porch to the left of the front door,” Bradley said. “What we’re not certain of, and what’s sometimes harder to tell, is what exactly caused the fire.”
There are two theories on a possible cause — possible cigarettes and, a more intriguing one dealing with plants, fertilizer and combustibles.
“There were some potting materials that were on the front porch, along with some fertilizer,” Bradley said. “Those materials were wrapped in plastic, some ordinary combustibles, and it is possible that they are self-ignited.”
