Quakertown house fire: Bucks County officials investigate fire that killed a father and his two sons at 11 Essex Court – 6abc Philadelphia – WPVI-TV
The incident happened around 1:30 a.m. at a two-story home located at 11 Essex Court.
When firefighters arrived, they quickly worked to put out the heavy flames that were coming from the home, according to officials.
At one point, firefighters were able to get inside the home but were pushed back out by the intense flames.
Officials say firefighters made several attempts to rescue the victims trapped inside the home before being unsuccessful.
Investigators say the house fire took the lives of Eric King, 40, his sons Liam, 11, and Patrick, 8, and their two dogs.
“I couldn’t see anybody, so I thought that they got everyone out, but it was kind of sad. Really sad to realize that not everybody was saved,” said Wilson Martinez of Quakertown.
Eric’s wife Kristin and their oldest son Brady managed to escape before the fire destroyed their entire home.
They were transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital for further evaluation.
Devastation, heartbreak, and tragedy on Christmas morning. “Three family members are deceased as a result of the fire,” said Chief Scott McElree, Quakertown Police Chief.
Mcelree says early indications are that the fire started in the family’s Christmas tree.
The impact of the fire spread to 9 Essex Court, which also was destroyed.
A family of four, fortunately, escaped without injury.
The fire was placed under control around 2:30 a.m., but the damage it had cost was already unimaginable and irreplaceable.
The local fire marshal and Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal were also called to assist in this investigation.
Members in the Quakertown community have stepped in to help the family recovery launching a GoFundMe page.
On Facebook, the Quakertown Community School District issued a statement that reads:
“Dear Quakertown School District Community families. It is with unbearable sorrow that we share with you this Christmas morning the tragic news that the King family, in a house fire early today, lost their father and two Richland Elementary School students, Liam, a fifth-grader, and Patrick, a third-grader.
Mom and Brady, an eighth-grader at Strayer Middle School, thankfully survived. This news is devastating for the District community and the Quakertown area at-large.
Eric and Kristin are very active in the community and the kind of people who make this a special place to live and attend school.
The School District sends its heartfelt sympathy to the King family and their many friends and relatives.
The administration is in the process of setting up a hotline of supports.
Thank you, and please hug your family a little tighter today.”
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