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Donations Pour In For Victims Of Deadly Delaware County House Fire

By Molly Daly

LOWER CHICHESTER, Pa. (CBS) -- There is still no word what caused a fire in Linwood, Delaware County Saturday morning that gutted a home, killed a woman, and sent several of her grandchildren and her son-in-law to Chester Crozer Medical Center.

A hospital spokesman says Ahmad Martin, who was burned saving his five kids, and trying to rescue his mother-in-law, is in critical but stable condition, and the three children who were hospitalized are on the mend.

Meanwhile, neighbors have stepped up to replace the clothes, shoes and toys lost in the blaze.

Donna Limbaugh lives across the street from the Martin family and is spearheading the effort at the Lower Chichester Firehouse.

"I saw them bringing the children out one by one," she said, "and the first thing that came to my mind was 'they're going to need everything.'"

Limbaugh put the word out on Facebook, and was soon inundated with clothes, toys, and phone calls. So the donation drop moved from her house to the firehouse.

"Not only did they fight the fire and helped save lives and put their lives at risk," she said, "they also, in the aftermath, are still helping out."

Donations fill tables lined up in one firehouse bay the size of a ladder truck, and have spilled over into the hall. While they've gotten a lot of kids' clothes and toys, Limbaugh said they're in desperate need of girls' clothing, size 10-12, and size 3 shoes.

"Diapers, we need diapers for the baby, size 4," she said, "We're now looking for (clothes and shoes for) the mom and the dad."

Mom wears medium to large, size 9-10 shoe, while dad is extra-large, shoe size 11. Monetary donations are not yet being accepted.

"We're not taking money right now," said Limbaugh. "We're trying to work with the family to set up an account. We just want to make sure it goes into a fund, so it's not handled by anybody else except for the family."

Limbaugh said she's blown away by the response, starting with neighbors who banged on doors to make sure people in the adjacent houses got out safely, to offers of help from friends and
complete strangers, from as far away as Texas.

"We've proved that people still have hearts," Limbaugh said, "and are still willing to help each other."

Donations can be dropped off at the Lower Chichester Fire House at 1540 Huddell Avenue, Linwood, Delaware County, 19061.

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