2 children killed in Sewickley house fire
SEWICKLEY, Pa. (KDKA) — Two children died in a house fire in Sewickley early Tuesday morning and their mother is recovering in the hospital after jumping from a roof to escape the flames.
The fire broke out just before 3 a.m. in the home on Miller Way. Allegheny County police said two children were pulled from the home by firefighters but died at the scene.
The siblings, later identified by the medical examiner as Jack Wylde Lightner and Lyric Keys, shared a bedroom. The boy was found inside his bed, while his sister was found in the hallway on the floor outside of her mom's bedroom.
Cochran Hose Company Fire Chief Shayne Quinn said when crews arrived, they saw the mother of the kids jump from the roof of the front porch. Quinn said flames were coming out of the windows on the first and second floors and she had no other choice but to jump.
The mother was taken to the hospital with second-degree burns and injuries from the fall. Sources told KDKA-TV she was on the roof and called 911 saying she could not get to her kids' bedroom because of the smoke and flames.
Neighbors recall being awakened to the horrific sounds of the fire and said their first thoughts went to the children, who they would see playing outside.
"I started hearing loud pops, it was sort of like fireworks, and then I would hear screaming and the loud pops and then screaming. You're waking up out of a deep sleep and you're thinking, 'What's going on and where is it coming from?'" said neighbor Tom Pastor.
"I'm just devastated. We've lived here for 30-plus years, and sorry for the family and obviously the children that didn't survive and the mother," said Nellie Kraus, a Sewickley resident.
"Life is so precious, so precious, we are so blessed. It just goes to show you, you can't take anything for granted," said Jill King, another Sewickley resident. "Children, it just really gets to you."
"I have four kids who have grown up in this beautiful community, and I've never experienced something so tragic like this in our community. But my heart breaks," Kraus said.
According to the Quaker Valley School District, both children were students. The school district said Lightner was a first grader and Keys was a third grader.
"Our heartfelt condolences go out to their family," Superintendent Tammy Andreyko said in a letter to families.
Andreyko said the counseling team members were on-site Tuesday and have planned interventions for the rest of the week.
"The loss of children is significant and raises many emotions, concerns and questions for our families and community, especially our students. At this time, information is very limited. As in all cases involving students, we want to respect the privacy of the family during this difficult time," Andreyko said.
Patty Poloka is friends with the children's mother. She said her friend moved her kids to the area in the summer for better opportunities. She says her friend did makeup out of her home.
"He was just so sweet," Poloka said of Lightner. "His eyes and his smile spoke for him. He was the sweetest little boy."
"Lyric, beautiful, beautiful little girl," she added. "She loved getting her hair done by her mom."
Allegheny County homicide detectives and the county fire marshal's office are investigating. Investigators were on the scene for hours, trying to figure out what started the fire.
The cause is unknown at this time, but sources say officials are looking at an extension cord or a space heater as a possible source. There were no working smoke detectors in the home, sources say.
This was the third fatal fire in Allegheny County since Sunday.
