A family gathering meant to celebrate life ended in unimaginable tragedy when a house fire tore through a Lebanon, Pennsylvania, home on Sunday morning, killing five people — three of them children.
At around 8:43 a.m. on September 28, firefighters rushed to the two-story home and found it engulfed in flames, smoke pouring from the windows. Inside were 10 people — relatives and friends who had gathered for a child’s birthday party.
“The fire was extremely advanced when we got there. We attempted to enter, but the conditions deteriorated so fast we had to pull out,” Lebanon Fire Chief Aaron Sweitzer told Local 21 News. “It was heavy fire on both floors. We just couldn’t reach them in time.”
Three people were pulled from the home and rushed to nearby hospitals. But when crews re-entered after battling back the flames, they found more victims inside.
The Lebanon County Coroner confirmed the dead include:
- Amarri Morris Rodriguez, age 1
- Veyda Pereyra, age 4
- Jaeden Nunez, age 17
- Josefina Estevez, age 73
- Tailing Nunez, age 23, who was initially hospitalized in critical condition but later succumbed to injuries
Mayor Sherry Capello called the deaths “a heartbreaking loss that has shaken this entire city.”
One neighbor told reporters he attempted to rush inside when he heard children were trapped.
“I was told there was a baby in there. I tried to get in, but the smoke was so thick and there was fire everywhere,” he said. “I crawled low, but there was just no way.”
Investigators have since ruled the fire accidental. The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal determined it started from an electrical outlet in the living room.
Lebanon officials said nearly a dozen neighboring fire departments responded to help. Despite the efforts, the devastation was total.
On Monday, a local nonprofit, Bag of Hope, announced it would begin collecting clothing and donations for the surviving family members who lost everything.
Mayor Capello added: “On behalf of the city, we extend our deepest condolences. Words cannot capture the sorrow of losing so many lives, especially children. This tragedy will remain with us for a very long time.”
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This is sad beyond belief. At 8:43am and no one was up to see/smell the fire smoke? And it burned both stories fast?
Was everyone sleeping? But there was extended family there.
I know they said it was accidental but I’ve been in a house that caught fire and the smoke wakes you because you can’t breathe well. This whole scenario just doesn’t make sense…someone should have smelled the smoke and got the children out. So very SAD…