House explosion single

Authorities view the scene of a home damaged by an explosion on Skyhaven Road in Northfield Center Twp., OH, Tuesday morning, January 12, 2016. Four family members including two children died from the Monday night blast.

(Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer)

NORTHFIELD CENTER, Ohio -- Northfield Center Fire Chief Frank Risko said Wednesday there's no threat of an arsonist at-large following a fatal house explosion that killed a family of four.

Risko's comments came hours after the Ohio Fire Marshal said arson caused the explosion and fire Monday that destroyed the home at 7486 Skyhaven Road.

"If there was someone walking around out there setting fires and killing people, we would have the responsibility to tell people that," Risko said. "That's not what happened."

Risko said he was unable to elaborate on how the fire was set or who set the fire.

Ohio Fire Marshal spokeswoman Lindsey Burnworth said investigators have an idea of what happened inside the home but are waiting for reports from several other agencies, including the Summit County Medical Examiner, before releasing more information.

Risko said evidence suggested that the fire was set on the first floor in the middle of the home.

"There were signs -- the roof in the center of the house was completely gone," Risko said. "The fire was more intense in the middle of the house."

The fire killed Jeff Mather, 43, his wife Cynthia, 43, and their daughters, Alyson, 12, and Ruthie, 8. Jeff Mather was a deacon at The Rock Community Church in Garfield Heights. Cynthia Mather was a tutor at KidsLink Neurobehavioral Center in Twinsburg.

Cynthia was found on top of the girls in a front hallway, Risko said. Jeff Mather was found dead in the rear of the home.

The arson determination came within 48 hours of the blast. Burnhart said cases can take up to a year or more to make a ruling, depending on the circumstances of the case.

The fire marshals sent five investigators to the scene, Burnhart said.

"I was happy to get the extra attention," Risko said. "We normally get one or two. This is something that would be better if they did the investigation."