Two teenagers died early Sunday in a fire at a home in Buffington Township. Fire officials have not issued an official statement yet, but United School District Superintendent Dr. Richard Lucas has released an open letter on the district website, writing that “the (United) family lost two of its students to a tragic event,” and offering condolences. The father of one of the victims has also posted about her death in the fire, writing that it was caused by “a propane heater in the bathroom” at his house. Brian Rummel writes that the victims were his daughter and her boyfriend.
The first dispatch was at 3:11 this morning, for a structure fire along Dilltown Heights Road. Firefighters from Vintondale, Armagh/East Wheatfield, Brush Valley, and New Florence received the initial call along with the Indiana County Rapid Intervention Team. Within minutes, Nanty Glo was called to the scene and Seward and Homer City were placed on standby.
United Superintendent Lucas says the school district will have its counselors and members of the Indiana County Stress Management Team available for students starting tomorrow at 8 AM. The district is closed for Veterans Day on Tuesday, but the counselors will return on Wednesday.
