The deaths of two women whose farmhouse was destroyed by fire have been ruled accidental, Washington County Coroner S. Timothy Warco said Thursday.

Bertha Leona Cox, 78, and her daughter, Nina Gay Cox, 45, died of carbon monoxide intoxication when they were overcome by smoke in the fire that erupted about 9:35 a.m. Oct. 16 in the farmhouse along Route 980 in Cecil, Warco said.

Family members said Nina Cox, who was mentally challenged, died trying to save her bedridden mother. They said Nina Cox called 911 to report the porch on fire before the line went dead. The state police fire marshal's office has not said what caused the fire.

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