LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. — Three people are dead after an overnight house fire in North Londonderry Township, Lebanon County.
First responders were called to the 1st block of Patton Road shortly before 2 a.m. on Sunday.
Fire crews and the PSP Fire Marshall were on-scene investigating until noon that same day. North Londonderry Township Police Chief Kevin Snyder confirmed that three people died after being taken to Hershey Medical Center.
According to a press release, crews at the scene found a one-story home with heavy fire from the attached garage. Responders learned that there were six people in the home at the time of the fire, four had been evacuated with one of those people being the 911 caller.
After calling 911, the caller reentered the home to try and rescue the two unaccounted-for family members. They did not return and were unaccounted for when fire departments arrived.
The three individuals trapped inside were found and pulled from the home but later passed away.
The Dauphin County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased as Paul Garman, 87, of North Londonderry Township, Cynthia Weatherholtz, 60, of Swatara Township and Kristi Dougherty, 7, of Swatara Township.
The official cause and manner of their deaths are pending autopsies scheduled for Jan. 23.
The three survivors were treated for injuries they sustained, which varied in severity.
At this time, the cause of the fire is still under investigation by the State Police; additionally, it was determined during the investigation that the home did not have functioning smoke detectors.
Palmyra Fire Department with the Pennsylvania State Police and North Londonderry Township Police announced that they will take this tragic opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of functioning smoke detectors, as early fire detection can save lives.