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Fatal Homewood fire blamed on cigarette 

One of the victims in a fatal house fire in Homewood accidentally started the fire with a smoldering cigarette, a city arson investigator said today.

Cora Mae Raiford, 83, and her son, Kenneth Raiford, 56, died in the fire Friday on Kedron Street.

Firefighters found Cora Mae Raiford on the second floor of the house and pronounced her dead at the scene. Kenneth Raiford died later that night in West Penn Hospital after suffering severe burns over 60 to 80 percent of his body.

Investigators spoke to Kenneth Raiford before he died. Based on those interviews, and further investigation at the scene, they ruled the fire started on the porch "due to careless smoking ... by the son."

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