Seven die in Pa. house fire

WAYNESBURG, Pa. (AP) — Fire swept through a house in southwestern Pennsylvania early today, killing a woman and six young children, state police said.

The woman, 26, and six children between the ages of 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.

The home’s gas furnace was not working so the residents used space heaters throughout the home to keep warm. Authorities said it was unclear whether they contributed to the fire, which is being investigated by a state police fire marshal.

Firefighters responded at about 3:15 a.m. and found flames about 10 to 15 feet high shooting from the split-level, vinyl- and aluminum-sided house, said Waynesburg Volunteer Fire Company Chief Larry Marshall.

Waynesburg is about 35 miles southwest of Pittsburgh.