Tragic House Fire Claims Father and 4 Kids, as Mom and 2 Others Escape

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Dad and 4 Children Dead After House Fire That Mom and 2 Other Kids Escaped.Photo byauthor (licensed under CC BY 2.0)

Tragedy struck a Pennsylvania home on Guy Street in Jeannette overnight when a fatal fire claimed the lives of a father and four children.

The Westmoreland County Coroner, Tim Carson, confirmed the devastating news after responders arrived at the scene around midnight on Wednesday.

Reportedly, eight individuals were in the house during the blaze, as noted by CBS affiliate KDKA-TV.

Authorities identified the victim as Tyler J. King, 27, along with his children Kyson John, 7, Kinzleigh John, 6, Keagan John, 3, and Korbyn John, only one month old.

The mother and two other children were thankfully rescued from the fire.

Reports from ABC affiliate WTAE-TV and NBC News revealed that Tyler J. King was the father of the deceased children. The community mourns the loss of lives in this heartbreaking incident.

Deputy Coroner Steven A. Whiteman officially declared the victims deceased at the scene, as detailed in the coroner's report. Autopsies have been scheduled to be conducted on Wednesday.

“It's a sad night here tonight,” Jeannette Fire Chief Bill Frye said, per WTAE, while confirming the three other victims did survive. "Our firefighters and some bystanders and the police officers initially on scene were able to rescue three people from the house. An adult and two children."

NBC News reports that a mother and her two children, aged 10 and 1, are currently receiving treatment at nearby hospitals in the Pittsburgh area.

The seriousness of their injuries remains unknown, as stated by the coroner.

Jack Mull, a neighbor, instructed his daughter to contact 911 upon noticing the house engulfed in flames after stepping outside his residence.

Reports from KDKA and NBC affiliate WPXI mention that he tried to assist those trapped inside.

Mull initially attempted to access the home's basement but was forced back by the flames, as reported by KDKA.

He then retrieved a nearby ladder, which he and an officer used to reach a mother and her two children who had sought refuge on the roof of the burning structure.

One of the children experienced difficulty breathing, while the other suffered a broken leg.

The mother sustained burns while trying to re-enter the house to assist other family members, as recounted by Mull to the media outlet.

As the situation escalated, Frye noted that the flames consumed the entire house, prompting crews to evacuate.

Expressing his regret, Mull acknowledged that the intensity of the flames prevented them from doing more to help.

He shared this sentiment with WPXI, stating that the circumstances were overwhelming for everyone involved.

As reported by the outlet, fire crews faced difficulties with the fire hydrant near the home they were trying to use, resulting in a shortage of water supply.

Consequently, the fire spread to the neighboring house, causing both buildings to be declared total losses by WPXI.

Frye requested for thoughts and prayers to be extended to the affected family and the emergency responders involved in the incident as they navigate the challenges ahead.

Furthermore, Jeannette City School District superintendent Matthew Jones conveyed in a statement, as reported by WPXI on Wednesday, that "several individuals from our school district" were among the casualties of the fire.

Jones noted that grief counseling and various emotional support services are being offered to individuals affected by the tragic incident.

"We acknowledge the potential deep impact of this tragedy on our school community, and we are dedicated to ensuring that essential resources and assistance are accessible to aid in everyone's coping and recovery process," Jones stated, according to the source.