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Clairton Fire Traps, Kills Kids While Mom Yells For Help
Teenage Survivor Taken To Pittsburgh Hospital After Row House Blaze
POSTED: 3:51 am EDT October 23, 2009
UPDATED: 7:38 pm EDT October 23, 2009
CLAIRTON, Pa. -- Three young children were trapped in an early-morning fire on Soltis Drive in Clairton, while a mother screamed for someone to rescue them from an upstairs bedroom.
Deausha Faulk, age 6, and Rachel Finn, age 9
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"It was just, um, I don't think there's a word for it. I really don't," said Firefighter John Williams, who responded to the call shortly after 1 a.m. Friday.
Video - Channel 4's Marcie Cipriani Talks With Firefighters Who Responded To Call
Firefighters struggled to reach the victims -- Michael Zigler, 2, Deausha Faulk, 6, and Rachel Finn, 9 -- inside a rowhouse in the 2800 block of Soltis. All three children were pronounced dead at Jefferson Regional Medical Center by 2:15 a.m.
Video - Watch Ashlie Hardway's Report From Clairton
Markel Finn-Faulk, the mother of Deausha and Rachel, was able to escape her burning home by the time help arrived. Three visitors also got out alive -- Tiarra Williams, 17, Essence Finn, 14, Daishawn Smith, 11.
"It's just so hard. I don't know what to say. My sister -- she's going through it," said Finn-Faulk's sister, Shawna Zigler, the mother of the 2-year-old who died.
Slideshow: Images From The Scene
Firefighters and police officers tried to save the trapped children, but the fire was too intense.
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Firefighters and police officers tried to get the three young children out of the home but were not successful. Police said they went through the front door but could only get as far as the top of the stairs before the fire became too hot for them to advance.
"One of the guys partially went through the floor, and they continued on because they knew the kids were definitely up there, so it's tough. It really is," Williams said.
Michael was visiting the home, while the girls, Deausha and Rachel, lived in the house with their mother.
"It's like my heart just stopped. It's like I lost myself for a minute," said Shawna Zigler. "It's like things is going slow and we're stuck in time, you know?"
"They were loved and they're beautiful. We're going to miss them," said the girls' aunt, Serena Cosby.
The 17-year-old was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh to be treated for smoke inhalation and burns, Allegheny County police said. A firefighter also suffered minor burns.
Three young children are dead after an early-morning fire on Soltis Drive in Clairton Friday, after they were apparently trapped in an upstairs bedroom.
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The cause and origin of the fire are still under investigation, but it's believed that the fire started in the kitchen in the back of the apartment on the first floor. Fire investigators told Hardway there were working smoke detectors in the home and the case is not considered to be suspicious.
County Fire Marshal Bob Full said officers and firefighters are devastated they weren't able to reach the kids in time.
"Everything that was humanly possible to save these young children was done. The fire was extraordinarily dangerous and in this particular case, it's taken its toll," Full said.
"The first thing I did whenever I got home this morning was pull my daughter up out of the crib -- she's 14 months old -- gave her a big hug and a kiss, and just pray that you never have to deal with it again," Williams said.
The Red Cross told Channel 4 Action News it's assisting both of the families with food and shelter. I don't know what I'm going to do," said Shawna Zigler, who said she didn't have any insurance. "I just need the community to come together and help my sister with this tragedy."
The Clairton City School District released the following statement regarding the loss of the 3 children:
We are extremely saddened by the news of the fire that occurred in Clairton and took the lives of 3 children. The district mourns their loss and we will have counselors available at the school today for any student or staff member who would need assistance.
We understand that the older children are in area hospitals and we will do all that we can to support them during this difficult time. When school resumes on Monday, the crisis team will be available to speak to all students.
Donations can be sent to the school district office at 501 Waddell Ave., Clairton, Pa., 15025.
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