2 Killed In Late Night, Early Morning House Fires
By: KDKA's Bryant Reed
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Two fires overnight, one in Washington County and the other in Allegheny, left two dead.
The first happened late Friday night in the city of Washington, the other in the early hours Saturday morning in Pittsburgh's Brighton Heights neighborhood.
In Washington, Karen Campbell was pronounced dead on arrival. She had just laid down to sleep before her home gave way to the flames.
"Her son, he's actually her caregiver, he put her to bed for the evening and left. He lives down the street here. And when he returned from a run to the store, he saw the fire, so, she was actually in bed for the night," said City of Washington Fire Chief Gerald Coleman.
The call for the fire along Cambronne Street in Brighton Heights came in a little after midnight. Sadly, along with her dog, she did not make it out of the home in time to get to safety.
Nobody else lived at home with the woman, who was later identified as 61-year-old Diane Willard.
Public Safety officials say firefighters encountered hoarding conditions in the home.
Among the spectators going by to see the damage is Tom Macel -- it's his childhood home.
"I believe it was the lady who bought the house from my parents, so she's been in there quite a few years. Never happy to hear anybody lose their life," said Macel.
He lived there for 30 years before moving away. When he heard about the home, he wanted to stop by, take pictures and pay his respects.
"It's heartbreaking. The house was in decline for the past couple of years but sad to see it had to end this way," he said.
No matter what shape it's in, Macel says he'll always have memories -- but nothing can replace a human life.
As for now, the cause of the fires is under investigation.
Stay with KDKA for more on this developing story.
