GREENVILLE, Ohio -- With the mayor of Greenville, the Safety-Service Director, an investigator from the State Fire Marshal's Office and a few others at his side, Greenville Police Chief Dennis Butts read a prepared statement shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday evening. It pertained to the Sunday morning fire that killed 5 people.

This is the text of his statement:

On Sunday, September 16, 2007 at 9:11 a.m., fire officials responded to a working occupied structure fire at 112 Montgomery Street in Greenville, Ohio.

Investigators from the Greenville Police Department, Greenville Fire Department, Ohio Division of State Fire Marshals, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Darke County Coroners Office, and Darke County Sheriff's Office began a joint investigation into the cause of the fire.

The cause of the fire has been ruled as an incendiary fire or intentionally set fire.

The five fatalities involved in the fire were identified as Chanan Palmer, 31, Je'Shawn Davis, 5, Jasmine Davis, 3, Kayla Winans, 6, and Kaysha Minnich, 8.

The investigation has lead to a confession which, in part, indicated although the fire was intentionally set, the outcome was not.

Chief Dennis L. Butts of the Greenville Police Department would like to thank the investigators from the involved agencies, for without their assistance and cooperation, this case would not have come to such a timely conclusion.

The chief would not answer questions and promised to keep the media updated.

Steve.Baker@WHIOTV.com