NEW CASTLE —
Two people died in an early morning fire that engulfed a mobile home yesterday on Route 488 in Perry Township.
State police identified the victims as Phillip James Illig Sr., 49, and Jessica Lynn Morehouse, 28, both of 6247 Route 488, Portersville.
Wurtemburg-Perry Fire Chief Mark McDevitt said firefighters received the call at 2:14 a.m., and when they arrived at the scene the mobile home was fully involved. Half of the structure was already “consumed,” he said.
That portion contained the bedroom where the man and woman were found and where the fire originated, McDevitt said. At the point of origin, he continued, “the roof was almost all gone.”
The fire was reported by a passerby, state police said.
“I couldn’t say how long it burned before the passerby saw it,” McDevitt said.
Firefighters, he said, “had suspicion they (the victims) were in there. We saw a car in the driveway which indicates somebody” was inside and that there was “entrapment.”
Two dogs also perished in the fire, McDevitt added.
Asked about the cause, McDevitt said, “The destruction was so great it’s hard to pinpoint.”
He said state police are investigating to determine the cause.
McDevitt said his department returned to the station around 6:45 a.m.
Assisting Wurtemburg-Perry were Ellwood City, Wayne, Chewton, Franklin Township and Portersville fire departments and Portersville EMS.
(Email: jmanna@ncnewsonline.com)
TOP STORIES
Related Photos
Discussion
Fatal Fire: Police probe blaze that kills two
- TOP STORIES
-
-
Primary 2013: Six candidates seeking City Council nominations
Six Democratic candidates are seeking their party’s nominations for three seats in Tuesday’s primary. Voters will nominate two candidates on both Republican and Democratic ballots for four-year terms and one candidate for a two-year term.
-
New Castle Schools: District answers two state audit findings
New Castle school district administration answered two of the findings in a state auditor general’s preliminary report. The audit, which has not yet been finalized, covered the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years. The preliminary report also contains an observation, which the district answered.
-
Photo Gallery, Video: Procession, flag-waving crowds salute fallen policeman
Throngs of people crowded along East Washington Street Wednesday, paying final tribute to fallen officer William J. “Jerry” McCarthy IV. A motorcade of about 20 motorcycles and more than 200 police cruisers, all with flashing red and blue lights, created a sensation as it rode slowly toward Shenango Township.
-
New Castle Schools: Finding pinpoints nonpaying out-of-district pupils
New Castle school board members are waiting for the final determinations of a state audit that contained three preliminary findings. Earlier this month the board publicly discussed those findings from the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years, and the district administration has responded to two of them to the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General.
-
Photo Gallery, Story: Ceremony remembers fallen officers
Last year there were 12. This year, there are 13. The law enforcement community paused Thursday to remember Lawrence County’s fallen officers in a ceremony outside the New Castle police station.
-
Pulaski officer honored for heroic efforts
A Pulaski Township patrolman was named April 2013’s Officer of the Month by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
-
County considering jail privatization
Lawrence County government officials are mulling the idea of privatizing the jail. The matter came to light when a company toured the 268-bed facility after answering a request for proposals that was sent out by the commissioners.
-
New PennDOT website to outline road, bridge work
Pennsylvania senators hit the highway Tuesday at the end of their May session without confronting a bill that would pour billions into road and bridge repairs and construction.
-
Hilcorp might drill in Neshannock Township
Marcellus Shale drilling could be moving into Neshannock Township. A Hilcorp Energy Co. representative said during the Neshannock supervisors meeting Tuesday that the company has leased Millennium Park property off King’s Chapel Road for possible drilling.
-
Suspect in officer’s death jailed in county
Kylee Gwen Barletto was composed walking into court Monday until a television reporter pelted her with questions. Escorted by two state troopers, she was asked, “What do you have to say to the police officer’s family?” “I’m sorry,” she uttered as she was ushered into the court lobby. Then she burst into tears.
- More TOP STORIES Headlines
-
