Mother, 2 Sons Injured In New Castle Fire
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A woman and her two young children were hospitalized Sunday after escaping from a fire inside their home in Lawrence County.
A New Castle Fire Department official says crews were called to the home in the 100-block of North Ray Street around 10:30 a.m. after smoke was seen coming from a second-floor window.
"When we arrived on scene, we had heavy smoke coming from two second-floor bedrooms and the eaves," Assistant Chief Jim Donston, of New Castle Fire Department, said.
Authorities say one family was living in the home - including a mother, daughter, boyfriend and two children. The boyfriend was reportedly at work at the time of the fire.
"When I arrived on scene, I found a female and two male children standing across the street from the residence and I noticed that the two males had some burns to their upper and lower extremities," Assistant Chief Donston said. "They were immediately taken to an ambulance that was arriving on scene and taken to a nearby hospital where, I was informed, that they were LifeFlighted to burn units in different hospitals."
Ahead of crews arriving, concerned neighbors ran to the scene to try to help the mother, who has been identified as 19-year-old Tiffany Cox, and her two kids.
"Just heard screaming and I heard, 'My kids, my kids, my kids!' and just come over to help and see what we could do and make sure everybody's okay," said Dave Boise, a neighbor. "Evidently, all the people got out and we went up to try to see about saving the dogs but it was just too hot. It was impossible to get in to help them."
After getting into the home, officials say they found heavy fire in an upstairs bedroom.
"We made entry through an exterior stairwell to the second floor, which was the only access to the second floor of this building, and we found heavy fire and smoke in the… southwest bedroom – that's where we found the seed of the fire and it was extinguished within 15 to 20 minutes," Assistant Chief Donston added.
Fire officials are estimating the blaze caused around $25,000 in damage.
"Initially, I'm ruling it accidental," Assistant Chief Donston said. "The city's fire marshal was called to the scene to further investigate."
The family's dog could not be saved from the home.
Meanwhile, Cox and her two children were taken to Mercy Hospital for treatment. Cox was released from the hospital Sunday night. The children suffered burns on their arms and legs. One of her two sons is expected to be released today. There is no word on when the other boy will be released.
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