Just after 10 a.m. Tuesday, members of the Iron County Sheriff’s Office responded to the home where the family of four was found unresponsive. The dead were later identified as Steven Sikes, 33, Julie Crawford, 31, and two nine-month-old twin children.
At this time, the exact cause of what led to the deaths of the man, woman and the twin infants is unclear.
There is no indication that foul play may have been involved. However, the investigators believe that an alternative heating source, which may have been in the living room, could be to blame for the deaths.
The county’s coroner is investigating and working to find the exact cause of death. Autopsies were scheduled for Wednesday. It was unknown when exactly the results of those four autopsies may be available.
Winter months are often accompanied by cold, sometimes even freezing temperatures. The cold, wintry weather can make travel hazardous and dangerous, and it can even lead to families resorting to other methods to heat their residences.
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) said that while staying warm during the winter is a necessity, so is safety when it comes to heating a home. The USFA has outlined a number of alternative heating sources, such as a portable heater, a fireplace, a wood stove, a furnace or kerosene heater and ways to heat the house but to do so in a safe manner.
Before even using a portable heater, there are safety precautions to take. The USFA mentions to be sure and check the device for any hint of a damaged or cracked plug and/or cord.
Then when it comes to using the portable heater, the USFA said to always keep the heater on a solid and flat surface. Also, be sure to keep the heater, at a minimum, three feet away from anything that could possibly burn or catch on fire.
With the use of a fireplace and a wood stove, do not burn paper in them and always be sure to put out the fire prior to going to sleep for the night, according to the USFA. A furnace should be inspected every year and also remember to keep anything that make catch fire or burn from it.