Two adults, one child killed in overnight Kittanning house fire
Two adults and one child were killed when a massive fire broke out overnight in Kittanning Borough.
The fire broke out before 4 a.m. on Monday at a duplex home along North Grant Avenue. The home was fully engulfed by flames with large amounts of smoke pouring from the structure.
Kittanning Hose Company 6 Fire Chief Scott Kline says the fire started on the back side of the duplex in one of the units and then spread to the other unit.
Kline says that crews made it to the second floor of the home before having to evacuate. Two adults were ultimately found dead in a bedroom and a three-year-old child was found dead, as well.
Those victims were later identified as Kayla Whittaker, 28, Ryland Whittaker, 3, and Jason C. Blystone, Jr., 26, according to a news release from Armstrong County Coroner Brian Myers.
Two other children living with the family, ages 7 and 5, ran out of the home and went to a neighbor for help, Kline said. The two children were not injured.
Janet Kasprack has lived on the other side of the duplex home for 25 years and says she woke up to a neighbor who knocked on the door and told her his steps were on fire. She says the fire then quickly spread from there.
"It's very hard to watch your house burn down," Kasprack said. "I appreciate everybody's help. Thank you to all the firefighters and everybody that's there helping. Even the neighbors that are coming to help."
Kasprack says she hurried up and ran back to her house, got her paralyzed husband dressed and out of bed before paramedics and police officers helped get him out of the home.
"We got him out to the porch, and they just grabbed him out of his power wheelchair and put him on a stretcher. And then got his wheelchair off the porch."
Coroner Myers said a fire in a tight-knit community like this can affect everyone.
"It hits everybody, even my department. It's just heart-wrenching," said Myers. "Armstrong County is only 65,000 people. So, you don't like to see this stuff happen."
Chief Kline even lives near the deceased.
"It's a deep tragedy, especially for a small community. There's times where you drive past and see there's kids playing in the street. It's only probably about six houses from my house," said Kline.
While trying to save lives, some firefighters also needed help themselves.
"We did have two firefighters call mayday; they went through the second floor to the first floor. Those guys are being treated at Armstrong County Memorial Hospital," Chief Kline added.
Those two firefighters are expected to recover, but now it's starting over without a mom for two kids who made it out alive, and Kasprack and her husband, who are now left without a home.
The cause of this fire is unknown at this time. The fire marshal is investigating.
