2 killed in Fayette County fire
WHARTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) — Two people are dead after a fire in Fayette County on Thursday morning, according to the coroner.
A massive fire swallowed the home on Fike Hollow Road in Farmington, killing 70-year-old Donald Brewer and 68-year-old Patricia Brewer, the deputy coroner said. Farmington Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Vansickle said the two were found in the living room area.
Vansickle said the home was fully engulfed when crews got to the scene, with fire blowing out of the roof and all the windows.
He said it was around -8 degrees Thursday morning.
"When the weather is real cold and we get below-zero temperatures, that whatever we do with water, we got one shot at it. Whether we commit to tankers or commit to a hydrant, we understand we got one shot at it. And once you start moving water, we can't stop," Vansickle said.
He said the weather wasn't a factor in fighting the blaze, but what could have made a difference is smoke detectors.
"That fire, for whatever reason, went undetected. So, it, you know, there was no [smoke] detectors in the home. It had had a head start on us before anybody caught it and called 911," Vansickle said.
He said smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are key when it comes to early detection.
"Had they had smoke detectors, they probably would have had an opportunity to try to exit their house. You know, we just can't, as fire personnel, we can't stress enough the smoke detectors. And we've put it out on our Facebook page: Anybody needing a smoke detector, we will buy you one, and we will come put it up," Vansickle said.
Vansickle said while a cause remains under investigation, the couple had several secondary heat sources in their home.
He said Donald Brewer was a local school bus driver.
"I just never got a chance to come and meet them, but, you know, I understand he was a school bus driver, so he got to know some of the kids and the elementary kids in the area," Vansickle said.
It's the latest fatal fire in western Pennsylvania as the area battles some of the coldest temperatures in a decade.
Also on Thursday morning, one person was killed and four were injured after a house fire in Upper St. Clair.
On Wednesday, a woman was killed in a fire at a senior high-rise in South Strabane Township. On Monday, a woman was killed and a man was hospitalized after a fire at a home in Crafton. A person also died in a house fire in Rankin over the weekend.
