What to Know
- Pennsylvania authorities say two firefighters died responding to a blaze in a house where a body was found in the yard. Two people who lived in the house were able to get out safely.
- The slain firefighters were identified as New Tripoli Assistant Fire Chief Zachary Paris and firefighter Marvin Gruber.
- The fire started around 4 p.m. and heavy smoke could be seen from miles away. The West Penn Township police chief called it an active crime scene, with state police and the federal bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisting the investigation.
Three people, including two firefighters, died during a house fire in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, according to NBC10 affiliate WBRE.
State Police identified the volunteer firefighters killed as 36-year-old Assistant Chief Zachary Paris, and 59-year-old Marvin Gruber of the New Tripoli Fire Department.
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“Their families deserve a thorough investigation,” West Penn Township Police Chief James Bonner said. “Our hearts go out to the families.”
Firefighters first responded to a call for a house fire with entrapment along the 1100 block of Clamtown Road in West Penn Township, Pennsylvania, around 4 p.m. Wednesday. Firefighters were inside the house searching for a person possibly trapped, when they made multiple mayday calls.
“Our hearts go out to these volunteer firefighters," Pennsylvania State Police Trooper David Beohm said. “They come out here and they do this for free to protect all of us…the things that they do for us is immeasurable.”
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Firefighters found one person dead behind the home. Police have not identified that person, or confirmed how that person died.
“We have a body in the back, and that's all still part of this whole investigation,” Boem said.
“We’re not gonna guess or theorize,” Beohm said of the third victim’s cause of death.
Bonner said two people — “an uncle and nephew” — lived in the three-story single-family home and were able to escape the fire. He said two other firefighters were treated for injuries.
Police said more than 100 firefighters and officers responded. Bonner called it an active crime scene, with Pennsylvania State Police and the federal bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisting the investigation.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf order the Commonwealth flag to be flown at half-staff in memory of Paris and Gruber as well as Kurt Keilhofer of the Mapleton Fire Department in Huntingdon County who died while responding to a crash.
A procession was held Thursday afternoon leading Paris and Gruber back home to Lehigh County.
Denise Macalush and Tammy Santana, employees at Katie's Family Restaurant in New Tripoli, told NBC10 Paris and Gruber were both well-known in the community.
"They were wonderful people," Macalus said. "I'm very saddened by it. Zach was here Saturday with his family. His two beautiful girls and his beautiful wife. Marvin and his wife Karen came in regularly on Sunday morning for breakfast. My daughter waited on him also on Sunday morning for breakfast. He will definitely be missed. He always had a big smile. A warm heart. Caring person. I went to school with him. Just wonderful people."
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