WAKEFIELD, N.H. — On Christmas Day, four individuals tragically lost their lives in a residence in New Hampshire, with authorities suspecting carbon monoxide poisoning as the cause of death.

Emergency services were alerted to the situation in Wakefield at approximately 4:20 p.m. for a welfare check, according to Sean Toomey, the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal. Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered the bodies of four adults inside the home.

While the investigation is still ongoing, Toomey and other officials indicated in a statement that preliminary findings suggest the victims succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Highlighting the critical role of safety measures, Toomey emphasized the necessity for households to have operational carbon monoxide alarms installed. He mentioned to a local news outlet that among the deceased were two older adults and two younger adults. Their family members had reached out to authorities due to their absence from a planned Christmas gathering.

Officials are treating these deaths as accidental. They are examining the gas heating system within the home, which notably lacked carbon monoxide detectors, as reported by local media.

The names of the deceased have not been disclosed as authorities await the notification of their next of kin. Additionally, autopsies to determine the precise causes of death are scheduled for Thursday.

On the day of the incident, temperatures in Wakefield plummeted to around 13 degrees Fahrenheit (-11 degrees Celsius), further emphasizing the potential dangers of heating systems during cold weather.