4 Dead, Including 3 Kids, After Fire Breaks Out at Birthday Party

Four people, including three children, have died in Pennsylvania after a house caught on fire during a birthday party.

According to the city of Lebanon, Penn., firefighters were called to a home on Sunday, Sept. 28, at around 8:43 a.m. and found that the two-story building was “fully engulfed, with flames visible from the windows.”

Ten people, including “guests visiting for a birthday celebration,” were trapped inside the building at the time of the fire, and firefighters requested additional backup from nearly a dozen different other departments, the city said.

Three people were removed from the building right away and taken to two local hospitals, the city’s statement continued.

“After rescuing these victims, conditions within the structure deteriorated, forcing crews to withdraw and continue suppression efforts from the exterior,” the statement added. “Once conditions stabilized, firefighters re-entered the building and recovered two additional victims.”

Lebanon Fire Chief Aaron Sweitzer told Local 21 News that crews tried to fight the fire from the inside of the building, but were forced to evacuate as the flames became stronger.

“It had heavy fire on the first and second floor, and we were unable to make any entry into the structure until fire suppression was knocked down so we could advance,” he told the outlet.

One neighbor who spoke with the local outlet recalled attempting to help get victims out of the house after the fire broke out.

“Once the guy said there was a baby inside the house, I tried to get in and directly across from me there was a couch on fire,” the man told Local 21 News. “The fire was real intense, and the smoke was really thick. So I tried to get under it, but there was no way for me to get in there.”

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Four victims – a 1-year-old, a 4-year-old, a 17-year-old and a 73-year-old – died in the blaze. One person is in critical condition, one other is in stable condition, and the four remaining attendees of the party sustained minor injuries. The victims have not yet been publicly identified, but the city shared that their names will be released at a later time.

The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal’s Office is currently investigating the incident, but the city confirmed that the fire originated from an electrical outlet in the first-floor living room and has been ruled accidental.

The local non-profit group Bag of Hope said that it would begin accepting clothing donations to help the family affected by the fire.

“On behalf of the City, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. Words cannot capture the depth of our sorrow for their loss. Our thoughts and prayers remain with all those impacted by this devastating event,” Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello added in the statement.