Fire forces woman, 3 kids from home

SHARON, Pa. -- City firefighters said a Sherman Avenue woman tried to fight a blaze in her home with a fire extinguisher before heavy smoke drove her and three children from the house.
Beverly Martell of 595 Sherman Ave. was on the first floor of her two-story frame home when she heard a second-floor smoke detector sounding around 9:50 a.m. Wednesday, firefighters said.
Martell told authorities she went up the stairs and opened the door to her bedroom to find flames climbing up a wall.
She closed the door and ran to get a fire extinguisher, but when she opened the door a second time, the heavy smoke drove her back, she said.
She, her teenage son and two children in wheelchairs then evacuated the house and called 911 for help, firefighters said.
Black smoke was coming from a second-floor window as firefighters reached the scene. They were able to quickly extinguish the flames and said the cause is undetermined.
The fire started near the bed and a window air conditioning unit, firefighters said, noting that Martell has insurance on the property.