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Dec 30, 2008 9:22 am US/Eastern
Fire Officials Determine Cause Of Deadly Blaze
PHILADELPHIA (AP) ―
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Officials in Philadelphia say 7 people were killed on Dec. 26, 2008, when a kerosene heater exploded, setting a home on fire.
CBS
As family, friends and other Liberian immigrants continue to mourn the deaths of seven victims who died in a fire the day after Christmas; officials announced they have determined the cause of the tragic blaze.
Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said the Fire Marshal has determined the cause of the fire to be misuse of a kerosene heater in the basement.
Authorities have not released the names of all the victims, but fire survivor Harris Murphy said those trapped in the basement blaze were part of the large Liberian enclave in southwest Philadelphia.
The blaze broke out around 10:45 p.m. Friday in a three-story brick duplex and killed three adults and four children, including a 1-year-old boy, fire department Executive Chief Daniel Williams said.
Fire officials said six victims were found huddled together in the front of the basement, one of them cradling the baby. The seventh was found near the basement door.
The boy was later pronounced dead at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
The medical examiner said three of the children died of smoke inhalation and one adult died of smoke inhalation and burns. Four victims were identified as Henry W. Gbokoloi, 54, of Yeadon; 8-year-old Ramere Markese Wright-Dosso; 6-year-old Mariam Iyanya Dosso, and 1-year-old Zyhire Xzavier Wright-Teah. The three children all lived with their mother nearby.
Four people survived the fire, including Murphy, 35, who lives down the street but was watching a movie with others at the home when the flames erupted.
Murphy said the fire started after a woman added fuel to a kerosene heater and, when it became too hot, tried to move it outside through the basement's only door. Some of the flaming liquid spilled out and set the carpet on fire, Murphy said.
The heater then "exploded," he said.
Murphy said he ran into a basement bathroom with Gbokoloi and some children, got in the tub and turned on the shower to try to wait out the flames until firefighters arrived. After a few moments, he said, he decided to make a break for it because the smoke was thickening.
A preliminary investigation showed the basement had one exit to the exterior and that the interior basement stairs had been removed, the fire department said in a statement. The fire commissioner said no smoke detectors were in the house.
Some Liberians who came to the house Saturday morning did not know who died but, because of the home's location, feared they would know one or more of the victims. The neighborhood is home to many of the city's 15,000 Liberian immigrants.
Anthony Kesselly, president of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas, lives nearby and said he knew Gbokoloi very well. He came to the house when he heard the news Saturday morning and was not surprised to see the growing crowd.
"We are very close-knit people," Kesselly said.
*Donations can be made to help the family of the victims by sending a check to any Wachovia Bank.
Make Checks Payable To:
Liberian Association of Pennsylvania
Note: Philadelphia
Fire Victims
* The American Red Cross SEPA Chapter is providing financial assistance to help with funeral expenses for the three adults and four children killed in the fire. Donations to the SEPA Chapter's Local Disaster Relief Fund can be made by calling
215-299-4000 or online at
www.redcross-philly.org.
DONATE: American Red Cross Aids Survivors Of Fire
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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