LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. — A one-year-old boy is dead and four others are injured after a house fire in Lebanon.
According to emergency dispatch, crews responded to the 1300 block of Brandywine Street at 9:52 a.m. on Sept. 13 for a house fire. City firefighters arrived on scene within three minutes of the initial dispatch, according to Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello.
Mayor Capello says the fire started in a second floor bedroom. Five people were inside the home when the fire broke out.
Along with the one-year-old boy who was killed, a two-year-old girl, four-year-old boy, and five-year-old girl were all taken to the Lehigh Valley Burn Center with injuries. Their conditions are unknown.
59-year-old Barbara Miller was also airlifted to the burn center with second degree burns.
Zachary Miller, who is friends with the owner of the house, says he and his wife watched the fire from a distance when fire crews first arrived at the scene.
“I saw smoke coming from the second story window. Me and my woman were talking, and we guessed that it was coming from my friend’s house. And sure enough, it was," said Miller. “I never thought my friend would go through something like this, especially on Friday the 13th.”
Mayor Capello said a neighbor and a worker from a nearby business tried to break into the burning house to get everyone out. City police also attempted to get inside the house.
“I want to thank the neighbors for trying to get inside and trying to assist," said Mayor Capello. "We also had an employee from CSR who brought a ladder and tried to help.”
Lebanon Fire Chief Aaron Sweitzer said his crew will come together to help the community through this tragic event.
“We’ll grieve through all of this, but we’ll work together and make sure we’re all okay," said Chief Sweitzer.
The State Police Fire Marshal Unit is investigating the cause of the fire.