Early-morning house fire kills 10 in Western Pa. town

BROCKWAY, Pa. - A man working an overnight factory job lost his wife, children and grandchildren in a house fire early yesterday that claimed 10 lives in Western Pennsylvania.

At least some of the victims were trapped by roaring flames that kept rescuers from reaching them. Killed were the man's 40-year-old wife and nine people under age 20, two of them infants.

Two people escaped, including an adult daughter who jumped from the second floor and ran naked and screaming for help, authorities in rural Brockway said.

The fire was not considered suspicious, though it remained under investigation. Space heaters appeared to have been in use, State Police Lt. Scott Neal said.

Kimberly Peterson died along with five of her children, ages 11 months to 17 years, authorities said. Her husband, Douglas Peterson Jr., 44, was at work in a nearby town at the time.

Fire Chief Kris Benson said the front of the house was ablaze when he arrived at 2:50 a.m. and tried to enter through a side door, but he was forced back by smoke and flames.

"This fire had a very, very good jump on us," the chief said.

Authorities did not immediately know whether the house had working smoke detectors. All 10 victims were found inside.

State police identified the other victims as Rebecca Peterson, 17; Douglas Peterson III, 13; Isaac Peterson, 8; Grace Peterson, 6; Lillian Peterson, 11 months; Cailyn Watson, 4 months; Domanic Delullo, 4; Desirre Delullo, 2; and Jason Mowry, 19.

The survivors are Elizabeth Peterson, 20, and James Peterson, 11, both children of Kimberly Peterson, authorities said.

Neighbor Patti Preston called Douglas Peterson Jr. at work in St. Marys, and police spoke with him.

"He told him the house was on fire, to please drive carefully but to come home," Preston said. He arrived home about 4 a.m., authorities said.

Elizabeth Peterson lost two of her children in the fire, Desirre and Domanic. Cailyn Watson was Rebecca Peterson's daughter. Mowry was a family friend.

The three generations lived together in the home, friends said.

Jessica Bundy, a 20-year-old friend of Elizabeth Peterson's, said the clan was church-oriented and close-knit.

"It was a great family to be around. . . . I adored them all," Bundy said. "I miss them already."

"We know everybody, so it's like losing one of your own," said William Hrinya, mayor of the rural town of about 2,000 people, which is set among rolling hills and farmland 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Amy Glasl, principal of Brockway Elementary School, said three children in the family attended her school. Two of them died.

"They didn't have a whole lot, but they had each other and that's what made them happy," Glasl said.