US: 10 killed in pre-dawn blaze at family home
A pre-dawn fire tore through a home where three generations of the same family lived, killing 10 people, most of them children.
Authorities identified the dead as Kimberly Peterson, 40, and nine people aged between four months and 19, including two babies. Most of the younger ones were children or grandchildren of Mrs Peterson.
Two members of the family escaped, including a young woman who jumped from the second floor and ran naked and screaming for help. The roaring flames melted the siding on a neighbouring house.
Fire Chief Kris Benson said the front of the house in Brockway, western Pennsylvania, was ablaze when he arrived at 2.50am and tried to enter through a side door, but was forced back by smoke and flames.
“This fire had a very, very good jump on us,” the chief said.
Mrs Peterson’s husband, Douglas, was working a night shift in a nearby town when he learned about the fire. He arrived at around 4am at the house on a side road lined with several other single-family homes.
“We know everybody, so it’s like losing one of your own,” said William Hrinya, mayor of the rural town of about 2,000 set among rolling hills and farmland 80 miles north east of Pittsburgh.
Many residents work at the town’s glass manufacturing plants, Owens Brockway Glass Containers, now part of Owens-Illinois. Mr Peterson worked for the company until a few years ago.
All 10 victims were found inside the house. They were Mrs Peterson’s children and grandchildren, plus one family friend.
The fire is being investigated but, not being treated as suspicious.
