Mother, 3 Children Killed In Philadelphia House Fire
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A woman and her three children were killed in a fast-moving house fire in Olney early Thursday morning.
Authorities say a fire at the family's row house in the 4800 hundred block of Palethorpe Street was reported just before 1:30 a.m. The one alarm blaze was placed under control about 40 minutes after being discovered.
The victims have been identified as Rasheedah Wilson, 33, and her three children; Jamar Nobles, 14, Minyan Wilson, 11 and Shanai Wilson, 8.
The fire department contends what happened is a brutal reminder of a simple message to make sure you have working smoke alarms.
The children's uncle openly wept on the charred front porch of the home where his nieces and nephew all died early Thursday morning.
"It was sad. We found out one of the neighbors had tried to call her (the mother) and she called her back, but she couldn't speak, she couldn't talk," Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said. "We didn't find any smoke alarms except for in the basement, but it did not have a battery in it."
Watch the video...
Officials say all the victims were found on the second floor after fire crews had brought the blaze under control and extinguished the flames.
Fire officials said Minyan and Shanai were found in a rear bedroom, Jamar was found in a middle room and their mother was found in a front bedroom.
"We heard a bunch of screaming and stuff but no one could get to them," said neighbor Jackie Toledo. "I know one neighbor tried to kick in the back door, but there was too much smoke."
Friends of 14-year-old Jamar Nobles cried at the make shift memorial in front of the home.
"A lot of people didn't notice him, but if he knew you, he was your friend. He would make you laugh," Rachel Desantis said.
"Everybody is crying. It is not going to be the same without him," Kareema Chazin said.
Firefighters battled not only the fast moving flames, but also had to get around snow in the streets and water runoff that quickly turned to ice making the scene doubly hazardous.
Three other nearby homes also sustained water, heat and smoke damage.
Because of all the icing conditions, city salt trucks were called to the scene. Local detours remain in effect around the scene during the investigation.
If you need a smoke alarm, the fire department will provide you one for free if you call them.
The cause of the fire is not clear, but it appears it is not suspicious at this time.
Neighbors are planning a memorial in front of the house, Friday night at 6 pm.
Reported by Al Novack, KYW Newsradio; Dray Clark, CBS 3; Ben Simmoneau, CBS 3; Todd Quinones, CBS 3
