Two teens identified as victims of Rowan County fire, coroner says

ROWAN COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - The names of two people who were found dead after a fire in Rowan County have been released.

The fire happened Tuesday morning at a building just off Pretty Ridge Road.

State police tell us the building was not a house, more of a what they called a “side building.”

Initially, state police were only able to say one person had died because the fire was still too hot to go inside to check for additional victims. They have since confirmed a second person has died.

“Once fire crews were on scene they were able to extinguish the fire. They went in and located at least two individuals inside the residence,” said Trooper Michael Haney.

KSP says the bodies were sent to Frankfort for autopsies.

According to the Rowan County coroner, the victims have since been identified as 18-year-old Charles “Charlie” Meade and 17-year-old Deegan Beane, from Carter County.

The coroner says Meade lived on the property where the fire happened and Beane was visiting. We’re told Beane was a senior at West Carter High School.

The coroner says Meade and Beane died from smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.