Two killed in Christmas Eve fire in Donora
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Mapletown鈥檚 Landan Stevenson eyes up Carmichaels鈥� Harley Stoneking as he runs the ball during Friday night鈥檚 game at Mapletown. Stevenson scored three touchdowns and kicked six extra points in the Maples鈥� 42-0 victory and surpassed Dylan Rush as the school鈥檚 all-time leading scorer with 521 points.
Two people were killed in an early morning house fire on Sunday in Donora.
Tracy Honabarger, 41, was transported from a McKean Avenue home, and pronounced dead at Penn Highlands Mon Valley Hospital at 6:16 a.m., according to Washington County Coroner Timothy Warco.
The second death was confirmed by Washington County 911 late Sunday morning. The coroner identified the man as Clifford Honabarger, 38. He was declared dead at the scene shortly after 11 a.m.
The fire at 1043 McKean Ave. was reported to 911 just before 5 a.m., prompting response from fire departments in Washington, Fayette and Westmoreland counties.
The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation by the state fire marshal, but Pavelko said the fire is believed to have originated in the back of the home.
No other injuries were reported, according to 911 and Pavelko. The fire spread to two neighboring homes. Pavelko said four total residents have been displaced as a result.
First responders remained on the scene late into Sunday morning, and had taped off McKean Avenue. Donora police and fire department refused to speak with the media.
Pavelko said the American Red Cross and Salvation Army are assisting.
A GoFundMe, created Sunday afternoon, identified Tracy Honabarger鈥檚 husband as James Smith. The post is trying to raise $5,000 to assist Smith and his family. As of Christmas morning, it was nearly at that goal.
鈥淭hankfully the kids weren鈥檛 home at the time, but the house and all their belongings were a loss,鈥� wrote GoFundMe organizer Michelle Franks.
The post referred to Smith and Honabarger as the 鈥渒indest people in the world.鈥�
For those unable to financially contribute, Franks said she is accepting donations for household items and clothing for Smith.
The family is in need of size 40脳30 jeans, large men鈥檚 shirts, size 12 shoes, socks and underwear for Smith. His daughter, 15, is listed as needing medium/large tops, size 16 pants, size 10 shoes, socks and undergarments, and his 18-year-old son is listed as wearing size XL-2XL tops, 42脳32 jeans and size 12 shoes.
The campaign link is www.gofundme.com/f/2jf4j-fire-victims, and there is a contact link for Franks on the post.
Donora police are investigating, and responding fire departments include: Donora, Bentleyville, New Eagle, Charleroi, Monongahela, Carroll, Washington Township (Fayette County), North Strabane and Monessen and Collinsburg (Westmoreland County). Also responding were Rostraver EMS, Murraysville Rehab and the state police fire marshal.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to thank the eight to 10 companies throughout the valley who responded,鈥� Pavelko said.