Fire kills woman, 6 children, destroys home

The bodies of the fire victims are being autopsied today, authorities said.
WAYNESBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Fire swept through a house in southwestern Pennsylvania early Saturday, killing a woman and six young children, state police said.
The woman, 26, and six children between ages 2 and 10 died in the fire in Franklin Township, Greene County, Trooper Brian Burden said. Several adults escaped, and one was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital, Burden said.
Robert Husner, 27, who was staying in the home, said Joshua Arthur Sr., the father of three of the children, woke him up and they tried to rescue all six children, who were sleeping in two separate bedrooms.
"The flames were just too high," Husner said. "I couldn't get in; there was so much smoke."
The home's gas furnace was not working, so the residents used space heaters throughout the home to keep warm, Husner said. Authorities said it was unclear whether they contributed to the fire, which is being investigated by a state police fire marshal.
Firefighters responded about 3:15 a.m. and found flames about 10 to 15 feet high shooting from the split-level, vinyl- and aluminum-sided house, Waynesburg Volunteer Fire Company Chief Larry Marshall said.
"Fire was shooting out all the windows and doors," Marshall said. The blaze was under control in about 30 minutes, "but it was too late," he said.
Victims
State police identified the victims as Rebecca Eddy, 26, and her children Tiffany Blake, 10, Rebecca Blake, 9, and Diamond Blake, 7; and Arthur's children, Donna Jo Arthur, 5, Joshua Arthur Jr., 3, and Christopher Arthur, 2. Joshua Arthur Sr. is listed in serious condition at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. Husner, Steven Eddy and Lucille Treat were able to escape, authorities aid.
Deputy County Coroner Mary Ann Lewis said autopsies would be done today by Dr. Cyril Wecht and Associates in Pittsburgh, a private firm owned by the former Allegheny County coroner.
The house was severely charred, but part of the roof was still up while authorities investigated in frigid conditions. Crews hampered by unsafe conditions managed to get all the bodies out of the home by about 10 a.m., Burden said.
Two trailers stand about 20 yards from the house, but they were not damaged.
Mike Vukmanic, 23, who lives in a mobile home about 100 yards from the house, said he called 911 after he heard "a screaming, pounding noise" and looked out to see the home's back door open and flames inside.
At first, Vukmanic said, the fire did not seem that large, but "a few minutes later, it was just engulfed." His stepfather, Tony Simonetti, ran over to the house and encountered a man who told him there were people inside.
"I looked, there was no way to get into the house," Simonetti said.
Kathy Barnhart, 51, who lives a few miles away, came to the scene Saturday afternoon and knelt down to pray with her two grandchildren, Savahna Shreve, 8, and Michael Robison, 5.
"These little children came to my house and played with my grandchildren. This family needs prayer. This family needs support," Barnhart said, after placing six stuffed animals just outside the yellow police tape surrounding the home.
Waynesburg is about 35 miles southwest of Pittsburgh.
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