Woman, toddler killed in Rochester apartment fire

Published 1:55 pm Saturday, March 5, 2016

ROCHESTER — A woman and her 2-year-old daughter have died in a fire at their apartment in Rochester.

Police on Friday identified the victims as 25-year-old Melissa Phiefer and her 2-year-old daughter, Emily. Firefighters were called to the apartment building about 6 p.m. Thursday. Fire crews used ladders to bring several people down from the roof and from a balcony.

Deputy Fire Chief Vance Swisher said the fire was started by smoking materials on a futon in the apartment’s living room.

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The mother was pronounced dead at the scene. The child was taken to St. Marys Hospital where she was declared dead. Preliminary autopsy results show both died from smoke inhalation.