'Really Good People': Couple Trapped In Basement, Another Man Die In Early-Morning House Fire In Kensington
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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A man, his brother and fiancé all died Monday after their home in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood went up in flames. Authorities are now trying to find the cause of the fire.
All three victims were known in the area as devoted to their church. Many church members were out here praying and hoping the victims were going to make it, but none did.
Neighbors are in mourning after three people who lived in the home on the 2700 block of Rorer Street, just off Kensington Avenue, lost their lives in a tragic fire.
"They were really good people, really good people," said longtime friend Maria Osborne.
Flames ripped through the home around 4:30 a.m. It took firefighters less than an hour to knock out all the flames, but the home was so badly damaged, crews couldn't go inside to search for the victims. Instead, an excavator was brought in to dig through the debris.
"Tragic day. Really, the close family, a lot of them are here and it's not the outcome we would want," said Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel.
Neighbors say Becky Emeric and Jason Hudson were trapped inside their basement while flames ravaged their home. Their bodies were found by authorities several hours after they were reported unaccounted for.
Crews also found the body of a 50-year-old man, also identified by neighbors as Frances "Giaco" Hudson. He was Jason Hudson's brother.
All three lives are being remembered.
"We went to church every Sunday with them," said Patrick Beeler. "Everybody in the neighborhood loved them, everybody knew them."
"They would teach you more about yourself than you could ever do for them," said Rock Ministries Pastor Craig Cerrito.
The fire was so aggressive it destroyed the home, so crews tore it down.
