14-Year-Old Girl Killed In West Deer Township Fire, Family Says
WEST DEER TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) - A 14-year-old girl is dead after a fire in West Deer Township, a family member says.
Emotions were running high in West Deer Township Thursday morning as crews were on scene battling a deadly fire.
Officials have not confirmed the death, but according to the family, a 14-year-old Dayanna Shaffer did not make it out. She was an eighth grader at Deer Lakes Middle School.
"I'm just in utter shock. This happened and it shouldn't have happened. I can't even believe what she went through," Brian Shaffer, Dayanna's father, said. "I've never felt so numb in my life. I can't believe my baby's gone.
Firefighters say the flames were so intense, they couldn't get inside the single-family home.
"There was a heavy fire on the left side of the house, with a partial collapse," said West Deer Fire Department #3 Chief Josh Wiegand. "The fire department did try to make entry but was unable to."
The Allegheny County fire marshal was called to the scene, and KDKA is waiting to hear more.
KDKA's Paul Martino was told there had been some renovations going on in the house, but the fire marshal has not said if that could have been a factor.
The family's dachshund, named Nessie, was also lost in the blaze.
Anyone with information concerning the incident is asked to call the County Police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.
