HARTLAND - A house fire in western New York killed three young brothers and left their grandmother fighting for her life in a hospital after she was overcome by smoke while trying to rescue the boys.
Investigators on Wednesday are planning to return to the scene of the blaze in the town of Hartland to continue looking for clues on the cause. But the house burned to the ground, and they might never know exactly what set it off, said Niagara County Fire Coordinator Jim Volkosh.
“There's a lot of damage, but right now everything is leading toward an accidental fire,” Volkosh said. “We might have to leave it as undetermined if we can't come up with something we can stand on.”
The fire was reported shortly after 11 p.m. Monday. Niagara County sheriff's deputies and volunteer firefighters from six companies around the town about 25 miles northeast of Buffalo rushed to the scene and found the house engulfed in flames.
They tried to rescue the boys trapped inside, but the smoke and flames were too intense. The boys' grandmother, 59-year-old Leona Heigl, also apparently tried to re-enter the house and get the boys out before the emergency workers arrived, Volkosh said.
Heigl, who was overcome by smoke and suffered burned lungs, was taken to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo. She was listed in critical condition Tuesday.
It took firefighters several hours to douse the flames. When they did, they entered the house and found the three boys.
Police identified them as 8-year-old Devon and 6-year-old Cameron Jenkins, and their 5-year-old brother Daydon Alston.
All three boys were trapped downstairs, Volkosh said.
Authorities examined debris at the house, which they described as a total loss, searching for clues on what started the fire.
They'll return Wednesday to continue their forensic investigation and gather more information from witnesses, which could include Heigl, who reportedly told a sheriff's deputy that she might have left a candle burning in the house.
Fire investigators also will replay the 911 call Heigl made from a house across the street, Volkosh said.
“There's a lot of damage, but right now everything is leading toward an accidental fire,” Volkosh said. “We might have to leave it as undetermined if we can't come up with something we can stand on.”
The fire was reported shortly after 11 p.m. Monday. Niagara County sheriff's deputies and volunteer firefighters from six companies around the town about 25 miles northeast of Buffalo rushed to the scene and found the house engulfed in flames.
They tried to rescue the boys trapped inside, but the smoke and flames were too intense. The boys' grandmother, 59-year-old Leona Heigl, also apparently tried to re-enter the house and get the boys out before the emergency workers arrived, Volkosh said.
Heigl, who was overcome by smoke and suffered burned lungs, was taken to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo. She was listed in critical condition Tuesday.
It took firefighters several hours to douse the flames. When they did, they entered the house and found the three boys.
Police identified them as 8-year-old Devon and 6-year-old Cameron Jenkins, and their 5-year-old brother Daydon Alston.
All three boys were trapped downstairs, Volkosh said.
Authorities examined debris at the house, which they described as a total loss, searching for clues on what started the fire.
They'll return Wednesday to continue their forensic investigation and gather more information from witnesses, which could include Heigl, who reportedly told a sheriff's deputy that she might have left a candle burning in the house.
Fire investigators also will replay the 911 call Heigl made from a house across the street, Volkosh said.
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pamnewyork wrote on Nov 5, 2008 8:38 AM: