Cumberland County Communications dispatched the
alarm at 2:11 a.m. as a working fire with entrapment.
Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy fire coming from the front and
rear of the single-story home. Firefighters conducted a primary search but
had to “bail out” the front window due to the extreme heat inside the
dwelling.
The fire took the lives of a 28-year-old mother and her two sons, ages 9
and 2. The children’s grandmother, who was asleep in another bedroom,
was able to escape the flames and smoke.
Police and Fire investigators were called to investigate the cause and
origin of the fire. Investigators believe the blaze to be accidental in
nature and caused by burning candles used for lighting in the living-room
foyer area. There were no working smoke detectors in the home. Two
firefighters suffered minor injuries during the fire.
Apparatus on scene were Engines 30 and 36, Ladder 35, Rescue 34, Deputy
31 and Deputy Chief 32; with a total of 27 personnel operating on the fire
ground
