Three Dead After Fire In Gary, Indiana

GARY, Ind. (CBS) -- A Gary family was dealing with a heartbreaking loss Friday night, after three family members were killed when a house went up in flames.

Among them were a mother and her adult son, according to family.

As CBS 2's Jermont Terry reported, investigators remained at the scene of the fire in Gary late Friday night.

The fire broke in the midday hours at the home on Noble Street near 20th Avenue. More than 10 hours later, fire investigators were still sifting through debris for clues, all in an effort to find the cause.

It left a family dealing with the horrible loss of three loved ones.

Working under spotlights Friday night, fire investigators hoped to uncover what ignited the fire.

Inside the house, according to family, Dwayne Jones, 34, and his mother Nefretiri Jones, 53, were among the victims. The third victim was Dwayne Jones' cousin, family members said.

"In the daytime, you'd think someone would have been able to get out," said neighbor Nymrod Adkins.

3 die in house fire in Gary, IN. I'm working to find out who the victims are and what fire investigators believe started the deadly fire. Live report at 5pm @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/tvRAL2Cu03

— Jermont Terry (@JermontTerry) October 25, 2019

Family members said the mother and son were found downstairs, while the third victim – who also lived in the house – was on the second floor.

As fire investigators spent hours on the block looking for a cause for the blaze, neighbors were wondering why it was taking investigators so long to clear the scene – and how no one could get out.

"The fire had to start at the top and come down, or come from bottom and go up, so you'd think someone would have been able to get out," Adkins said. "These questions remain to be answered."

As of Friday night, the Gary Fire Department had not said if they suspected foul play in the fire. But we do know Indiana state investigators are helping out in the probe of the deadly blaze.

Family members comforted one another as they watched in disbelief, all the while trying to grasp the fact that their lives changed in an instant.

"That really devastates me. I am so, so sorry to hear that about the family. I mean, losing three people – I didn't know there was anybody in the house. They didn't yell or say, 'Oh, it's somebody in the house,'" said neighbor Lekemeia Pettis. "No, nothing. You didn't hear nothing. You didn't hear them talking. If they was talking, it wasn't loud, but nobody said nothing about three people in the household."

"Any loss like this is very tragic for anybody, and just praying for the family," Adkins added.

CBS 2's Terry also talked to the man who lost his mother and brother in the fire. That man said his mother usually babysit many children, and he was just thankful that those children were not home at the time of the fatal blaze.