FAMILY TRAGEDY
RELATIVES IN CHI FOR FUNERAL ARE ROUTED BY RAGING HOUSE FIRE:
Flames erupt from a single-family dwelling in Upper Chichester around 4 a.m. Thursday morning, injuring nine individuals.
UPPER CHICHESTER » A special-needs woman who is mourning the recent loss of her father and eight other grieving adult family members reportedly staying with her after the funeral on Wednesday were routed from her Boothwyn house after a fast-moving fire erupted in the basement early Thursday.
“Eight of the nine occupants were treated and released, and one was being admitted overnight for observation,” Chief Ray Fuller of the Boothwyn Fire Co. said Thursday afternoon, noting all nine people were transported to the hospital as a precaution for smoke inhalation.
Neighbor Tim Egleston said he was awakened from a sound sleep about 4 a.m. Thursday, exiting his home in the 3100 block of Rodney Road to find the house across the street ablaze and a fire truck parked on a portion of his lawn about 20 feet from his front door.
“It was frightening,” said Egleston, who was aware of his neighbor’s death and that the deceased man’s adult daughter and other visitors were at the house, following the funeral services earlier this week.
“I was afraid something happened to the people,” he said.
When firefighters arrived, heavy smoke was showing from all around the single-family Cape Codstyle house, and heavy fire showing from the basement areas, according to Fuller.
All nine occupants were already out of the building.
“We believe they exited on their own,” Fuller said. “On arrival, they were at a neighbor’s house.”
As many as 60 firefighters from nine departments battled the blaze for nearly 90 minutes in the frigid cold, before bringing it under control at 5:32 a.m., he said.
Describing it as a “fastmoving fire,” Fuller said it appears to have originated in the basement, though the cause remains under investigation by township Fire Marshal Dave Holland.
According to Fuller, the house sustained extensive fire and water damage, though a full estimate of damages is pending further investigation.
At the scene Thursday afternoon, there were two gaping holes in the roof of the burned-out structure. All the windows were boarded up, as well as the front door.
A man who identified himself as the homeowner’s brother in a Facebook message on the Daily Times page said the property belonged to his sibling and no one was injured.
“He passed away last week, his children and grandchildren were in the house,” the brother posted.
Friends immediately posted messages of prayers and condolences for the family.
“I’m sorry for your loss and dealing with this on top. I pray for strength,” read one post. “Is there somewhere we can donate items …,” read another post in part.
Fuller was not immediately aware of any organized effort to assist the family, though he suggested anyone interested in making donations could contact Upper Chichester Township authorities.
Assisting Boothwyn at the scene were firefighters from Ogden, Reliance, Lower Chichester, Marcus Hook, Brookhaven, Claymont, Talleyville, Crozer paramedics, and canteen crews from Woodlyn and the Salvation Army.