( CNN ) -- A grandfather who perished in a Christmas day fire at a Connecticut home died from blunt-force head and neck trauma as well as smoke inhalation , while his wife and their three grandchildren died from smoke inhalation , the state medical examiner 's office said Wednesday . Authorities said on Tuesday that Lomer Johnson fell through roof rafters outside a window . One of the children 's bodies was found just inside the window . It appeared Johnson was trying to get the child out , but died after climbing through the window , said Stamford , Connecticut , Acting Fire Chief Antonio Conte . The medical examiner 's office said Wednesday Johnson suffered from smoke inhalation in addition to trauma from the fall . Three young sisters -- a 10-year-old and 7-year-old twins -- died in the fire along with the Johnsons . The girls ' mother , Madonna Badger , and a friend escaped the blaze . The fire , which broke out about 5 a.m. Sunday morning in the three-story Victorian home , is believed to have been caused by smoldering embers removed from a fireplace about two hours before and taken to an area in the rear of the house , Stamford Chief Fire Marshal Barry Callahan said . The city of Stamford razed the three-story home on Monday after determining it was unsafe . The million-dollar home in the wealthy Shippan Point neighborhood was under renovation . All that was left of it was the mailbox , around which grieving neighbors placed flowers . CNN affiliate WFSB reported that Badger attempted to climb the renovation scaffolding outside the home in an apparent attempt to reach her family . Witnesses said they heard her screaming that her whole life was inside the home , the station said . Intense flames and heat pushed back firefighters searching for the trapped family members , Conte told reporters on Tuesday . The investigation into the fire continues , officials said . `` It 's going to take a while , '' Conte said . `` That poor woman lost her entire family in one fell swoop . '' Badger , a New York advertising executive , purchased the Connecticut home for $ 1.7 million in December 2010 , according to property records . Johnson worked as a Santa at Saks Fifth Avenue 's Manhattan store this holiday season , the department store said . He and his wife would have celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary on Monday , according to WFSB . Authorities said Tuesday it was unclear whether the home had working smoke detectors . CNN 's Ronni Berke contributed to this report .
Two women and their 3 children died in the blaze . Lomer Johnson fell through roof rafters while apparently trying to get a child out . The fire is thought to have been started by falling fireplace embers .