West Deer house fire that killed girl, 14, ruled an accident
The fire that killed a 14-year-old West Deer girl in March has been ruled accidental, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said Saturday.
Dayanna Shaffer, an eighth-grader at Deer Lakes Middle School, called 911 to report the fire at her home on Shepard Road on the morning of March 26.
The teen was pronounced dead in a first-floor bathroom at 10:35 a.m., about an hour and twenty minutes after the girl called for help. She died of smoke inhalation and second and third-degree burns to about 85% of her body, according to county officials and the medical examiner’s report.
The girl had been home alone with her dog, a long-haired dachshund named Nessie, when the fire broke out. The dog also died in the fire.
By the time firefighters arrived — within about four minutes of the 911 call — they were unable to get inside to rescue the girl because the flames were too intense and part of the building had collapsed, officials said.
The fire marshal’s investigation determined that the fire started under the house’s front porch and was caused by “improperly discarded smoking materials,” county spokeswoman Amie Downs said.
Further details about how the fire began were not available.
Shaffer had three sisters and a brother and was an eighth-grader at Deer Lakes Middle School, where she played flute in the school band.
“Our heart is broken for the young lady, her family and everyone who knew her,” Deer Lakes School District Superintendent Janell Logue-Belden said.
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An online fundraising page has been set up to support Shaffer’s family.
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