Dead bolt lock on home's front door prevented fire victims from escaping, officials say

MAGNOLIA, Texas (KTRK) -- A man and woman were killed in a fire that the Montgomery County Fire Marshal says came from the back of a trailer early Thursday morning.

Firefighters were called at about 3 a.m. about the fire in the 14000 block of Woodway Street in Magnolia.

Officials said that with the back of the home blocked by the fire, the victims tried to escape through the front door, which is where firefighters found them dead. That door, however, had a double-key dead bolt lock, which requires a key on the inside and the outside. According to Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams, that appears to have stopped them from escaping.

Williams wants to remind individuals to keep the key in the door or change that lock out for one with a twist lock for quick access out the door.

SkyEye video shows beams from inside the house exposed. Some trees surrounding the home even appear charred, due to the possible smoke from the fire.

The identities of the victims were not released as the fire department is still investigating. They are working to determine if smoke detectors were installed and/or working.