A father and his two children were killed in a fire early Friday morning that destroyed their home in the Indiana County town of Clymer, the coroner said.
Keith Lee Fabiszewski, 34, and the children were trapped by the fire in their home along the 400 block of Hancock Street, Coroner Jerry Overman reported. Firefighters found the three victims in the front section of the house, Overman said.
The coroner said his policy is not to release the identities of the children. The cause of the deaths is pending an autopsy, Overman stated.
Clymer fire Chief Brett Gromley said the wood-framed duplex was about 75% engulfed in flames when they arrived on the scene, which he noted is about a mile from the fire station.
While en route to the fire, which was reported at about 4:10 a.m., firefighters were informed there was an entrapment, which they confirmed when they arrived on the scene, Gromley said.
Residents living on the other side of the duplex were able to escape the fire safely and are being assisted by the American Red Cross, Gromley said. Two pet dogs also died in the fire, state police at Indiana said.
Clymer firefighters were assisted by units from six other Indiana County fire departments. Members of the State Police Troop A fire marshal unit are investigating to determine the cause and origin of the blaze, Trooper Cliff Greenfield stated.
State police criminal investigation and forensics services units, as well as a reconstruction specialist, assisted at the scene. At this time, no foul play is suspected, Greenfield said.
