East Lyme ― An elderly man and his caretaker died in a fire at 13 Willow Lane Friday morning.

The fire was reported at 8:07 a.m. and went to a third alarm.

The caregiver, who has not yet been identified, was taken to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, where the person died. Another individual, identified as Merril Lozanov, 95, was found and removed from the home and pronounced dead. They were the only occupants, police said.

At the scene, Helene Dworski said her 95-year-old father and his 36-year-old caretaker were the victims.

“I hope that they passed in their sleep,” she said.

Emergency vehicles lined the road surrounding the white raised ranch with blue shutters late Friday morning. The top of the home had visible fire damage.

The East Lyme fire marshal, with help from the state police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit and East Lyme police, is investigating the cause of the fire.

Town Police Chief Michael Finkelstein said it’s too early to determine the cause and origin of the fire.

East Lyme Fire Marshal William Bundy said the identity of the second victim is pending notification of their next of kin. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will be conducting autopsies on both victims, according to the police.

Niantic and Flanders fire departments responded along with fire companies from Waterford, the Naval Submarine Base, New London, Old Lyme and Old Saybrook. A tanker task force comprising several area fire departments was called to the scene due to a lack of fire hydrants in the area.

Fire departments from Salem and Essex provided cover for the East Lyme fire companies while they worked at the scene.

k.drelich@theday.com