LUMBERTON — A fire at a home on Singletary Church Road last week that killed a father and his son has been ruled accidental, according to a Robeson County Sheriff’s Office spokesman.

“It has been determined the cause of the fire was accidental as a result of a pot of chicken and rice being left on the burner still on,” Maj. Anthony Thompson said Wednesday in a statement.

The May 23 fire in the single-wide mobile home at 5138 Singletary Church Road killed Jimmy Branch, 75, and his son, 50-year-old Jeffrey.

It appears the father died after pushing his wheelchair-bound son toward the back of the home and away from the fire, Stephanie Chavis, director of Robeson County Emergency Management, said the day after the fire. The son was pulled from the home and flown to UNC Burn Center in Chapel Hill, where he died later.

Deputies and firefighters responded to a call about the fire at 10:53 p.m. May 23, according to Maj. Thompson. The home was fully ablaze when deputies arrived.

The Allenton, Britt’s and East Howellsville volunteer fire departments, the Lumberton Rescue Squad and county Emergency Medical Service also responded to the fire.