3 children and 7 adults die in US house fire
Washington, Aug 5 (EFE).- A house fire in Nescopeck, Pennsylvania, on Friday resulted in the deaths of 10 persons, three of whom were children, police said.
According to the authorities, the deceased children were aged 5, 6, and 7.
Police in the town, 150 km (95 miles) northwest of Philadelphia, has begun a criminal inquiry into the incident.
The state police received an alert about the fire in the two-story house around 2:30 p.m. local time.
Firefighters made “courageous efforts” to enter the house on fire, according to State Police Lt. Derek Felsman, but were repelled by the intensity of the heat and flames.
Three males were able to safely exit the residence.
However, seven adults and three youngsters were trapped inside.
When a firefighter arrived to put out the flames, he was horrified to discover that his children and grandkids were among the victims, according to local media.
The firefighter, Harold Baker, claimed that it was not until the fire tender turned the corner of a street and he spotted the home that he realized he was going to help his children.
“I couldn’t get in there to save them. That is the biggest thing that has been on me. I couldn’t get in there to save them,” said Baker, a firefighter with the Nescopeck Volunteer Fire Company.
Among the deceased are Baker’s son and his daughter, three grandchildren, and two other relatives.
“I also lost my son, my daughter, grandson, two other grandkids in there, my father-in-law, my brother-in-law, and my sister-in-law. All lost.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Police questioned those who got out of the house in time.
“We are utilizing multiple department assets to ensure a thorough and complete investigation into this fatal fire,” Felsman said.
He said the house was “completely destroyed” by the blaze.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said he was “heartbroken.”
“Our prayers are with their loved ones,” the governor wrote on Twitter. “Thank you to the many first responders who rushed to the scene.” EFE
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