Mother tries to save family, but 6 die in Pennsylvania fire

A Pennsylvania mother had to be restrained by police as she tried to rescue her husband, four young children and sister, who all died when their home was engulfed in fire, authorities said Monday.

Neighbors told arriving firefighters from the town of Pottsville that the family was trapped inside. But the fire had enveloped the entire three-story home by the time firefighters reached the scene.

“We made an attack as best we could. The fire was well-advanced and had a pretty good head start on us,” Jason Witmier, Pottsville’s assistant fire chief, told The Los Angeles Times.

The Schuylkill County coroner’s office identified the victims as the father, Eric Brown, 30; and children Elijah, 2; Emily, 3; Jeremiah, 7; and Joy, 8. Another adult, Kristina Thomas, 26, also died in the fire.

Kristina Thomas is the sister of Kelly Brown, 28, the mother who survived.

Kelly Brown wasn’t at the home when the fire began but arrived to see it in flames.

She tried to run into the burning house and had to be restrained by police, Witmier told The Times.

It took about two hours for firefighters from Pottsville and neighboring cities to control the blaze. Pottsville, a town of 16,000, is about 80 miles northwest of Philadelphia. A few firefighters received minor injuries, but none had to be hospitalized.

The state police’s fire marshal has begun an investigation. What caused the fire “is undetermined at this point,” Witmier said Monday afternoon. He said it does not appear that the family had smoke detectors in the home.

“It may be the biggest loss of life we’ve had in the history of the department,” Witmier said. “It’ll take an impact on everyone here.”

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