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Pocono News Section
Man, Two Children Killed in W-B Fire
Man, Two Children Killed in W-B Fire - Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 6:30PM EST
Reported by: Jill Konopka
Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 @06:30pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- The fire in a Wilkes-Barre apartment building killed a father and two small children. Emotions ran high as neighbors watched thick black smoke and flames roar through several apartments inside 522 South Franklin Street.
Neighbor Ruth Franchella explains what she saw when she was awoken Thursday morning. "All of a sudden I see all these fire trucks coming down the street and I looked out the window and saw flames in the back of that big house there."
Firefighters quickly realized they were dealing with a triple fatal fire. 5-year-old Angel Torres, three-year-old Alia Van Pelt and her father 26-year-old Victor Van Pelt all died.
"It's devastating because those houses are so close together and the whole block could have gone up" declared Franchella.
Several other tenants of this five family home escaped with only the clothes on their backs and blankets.
Fire victim Angel Arroyo and his mother consider themselves lucky. "I woke up with a lot of banging. I didn't know what happened until I went outside. The first thing I did was grab the animals and get out, and that was it."
Wilkes-Barre fire crews got the call just before three Thursday morning. Fire fighters arrived and found all three victims on the second floor. That's where fire officials believe the fire started.
Wilkes-Barre Fire Department Chief Jacob Lisman explained how it affects the first responders. "Whenever you have a fatality and whenever you have kids, difficult is a great understatement. It's much more than just difficult."
City inspectors and a Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal looked for clues and a cause, as firefighters packed up and moved on preparing for whatever else comes their way.
We asked Chief Lisman, who is a father of four himself, does your heart break for these children? He responded “As I said difficult is not a good word. It’s more than that. There will be a counsel for those crews that responded before they go home."
"It's a sad day, speaking to the families. Unfortunately we have to find out what happened. They want to know and we're not able to tell them. But we're working on it," stated Luzerne County Coroner John Corcoran.
The American Red Cross is assisting the additional families displaced by Thursday morning's fire. They housed 11 people at the Red Roof Inn. In addition they will also offer mental health services to victims, firefighters, and anyone in need.
The fire has been ruled accidental by the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshall. | | |
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