'Really Good People': Couple Trapped In Basement, Another Man Die In Early-Morning House Fire In Kensington
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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A man, his brother and fiancé all died Monday after their home in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood went up in flames. Authorities are now trying to find the cause of the fire.
All three victims were known in the area as devoted to their church. Many church members were out here praying and hoping the victims were going to make it, but none did.
A third body was found inside this home in #Kensington after an early morning fire @CBSPhilly https://t.co/iGCmHw3sXx
— Matt Petrillo (@MattPetrillo) March 25, 2019
Neighbors are in mourning after three people who lived in the home on the 2700 block of Rorer Street, just off Kensington Avenue, lost their lives in a tragic fire.
On the scene of a fatal fire on Rorer Street in Kensington pic.twitter.com/f3izmtUmaW
— Crystal Cranmore (@CrystalCranmore) March 25, 2019
"They were really good people, really good people," said longtime friend Maria Osborne.
Flames ripped through the home around 4:30 a.m. It took firefighters less than an hour to knock out all the flames, but the home was so badly damaged, crews couldn't go inside to search for the victims. Instead, an excavator was brought in to dig through the debris.
"Tragic day. Really, the close family, a lot of them are here and it's not the outcome we would want," said Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel.
Authorities believe a man and woman may have been trapped in the basement of this home on Rorer Street during a fire. L&I needs to determine the security of the single family home before firefighters can do a search. Family members on the scene are devastated. @CBSPhilly pic.twitter.com/gnqajc0Y5R
— Crystal Cranmore (@CrystalCranmore) March 25, 2019
Neighbors say Becky Emeric and Jason Hudson were trapped inside their basement while flames ravaged their home. Their bodies were found by authorities several hours after they were reported unaccounted for.
Crews also found the body of a 50-year-old man, also identified by neighbors as Frances "Giaco" Hudson. He was Jason Hudson's brother.
An excavator is taking the home a part, piece by piece, before crews can look for a third person who remains unaccounted for after a fire ripped through here in #Kensington https://t.co/UnQBPXGGEH pic.twitter.com/UpC4MTFIJs
— Matt Petrillo (@MattPetrillo) March 25, 2019
All three lives are being remembered.
"We went to church every Sunday with them," said Patrick Beeler. "Everybody in the neighborhood loved them, everybody knew them."
"They would teach you more about yourself than you could ever do for them," said Rock Ministries Pastor Craig Cerrito.
The fire was so aggressive it destroyed the home, so crews tore it down.