Butler County family of 8 loses everything to fire

BUTLER COUNTY, Pa. — A family six children, ages 5-16, and two adults lost all of their possessions in a fire Sunday morning.

The family was in the process of moving out of the home after being evicted and was staying at a motel. Only one of the six sons, Keith Young, 14, and his pregnant girlfriend were staying at the house when flames broke out.

“I couldn't stop it. I tried. I just got out of the house,” Keith said.

Keith told Channel 11’s Lori Houy that the two were asleep when the room caught fire.

“The candle, I think, lit on fire when we were sleeping, and I woke up and my girlfriend was screaming ‘Get out of the house,’” Keith said.

Gabrielle Young, Keith’s mother, said he was supposed to be staying at his grandfather’s house and was worried when Keith wasn’t found there.

“I ran back to my father-in-law's because that's where they're at and he wasn't there,” Gabrielle said.

Gabrielle said everything had been lost in the fire, the day before their possessions were to be moved.

“All of our stuff was still in there. We were going to get it out on Monday,” Gabrielle said.

Evans City Police Chief Joe McCombs told Channel 11 that no appliances were in the home and a fund was being set up for the family.

“We have a family of eight, six boys, mother and father, and at this point we are reaching out to the bank to set up an assistance fund,” McCombs said.

The fire marshal is investigating.

Cox Media Group