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Cynthia Weatherholtz called 911 and made it outside the burning home in Lebanon County early Sunday.
But the 60-year-old wouldn’t flee — not with two people still inside, according to emergency officials and neighbors.
She went back inside the one-story home the first block of Patton Road in North Londonderry Township and it ended up costing her life. The fire also caused the deaths of her father, Paul Garman, 87, and her 7-year-old grandchild, Kristi Dougherty, authorities said.
Good morning! LIVE this morning with continuing coverage on that triple fatal fire in North Londonderry Township, Lebanon County on #27Daybreak #triplefatal #housefire #panews #Pennsylvania #lebanonpa @abc27News pic.twitter.com/avOtBuOAil
— Kayla M Schmidt (@kaylamarie_tv) January 22, 2024
Three other family members survived, although they weren’t named by officials. Neighbors said the survivors are Mamie Garman, who is Paul Garman’s wife and Weatherholtz’s mother, an adult son of the Garmans, and another grandchild.
Betsy Kling, who grew up across the street from the Garman home, said Weatherholtz was like a “sister” and it’s no surprise she reentered a burning house after realizing others were still inside.
She said the grandchildren, whose mother lives in Swatara Township, loved to spend nights at the Garman home.
“They just loved their grandmother,” said Kling, 51.
Felecia Hoffman of Swatara Township, a former neighbor, said Weatherholtz had recently moved back with her parents to help care for them.
“She very sweet. She was just very caring. My children called her grandma,” said Hoffman, 30.
Chief David Dugan of Citizens Fire Company of Palmyra said a call of a house fire with people trapped inside came at 1:46 a.m. Sunday. Upon arriving, responders learned four of the six people in the home had gotten out, but that Weatherholtz had gone back in.
He said firefighters were able to quickly find the others and bring them outside. The three received care on the scene and later at the hospital but died of their injuries. One was flown to the hospital.
The cause of the fire was still under investigation as of Monday afternoon.
The 7-year-old, 60-year-old and 87-year-old who died in the house fire on Patton Road yesterday have been identified.https://t.co/ewItKnOXCG
— CBS 21 News (@CBS21NEWS) January 22, 2024
On Monday, the worst of the damage was on the side of the house, which included the garage. Wind chimes and potted plants hung from the front porch above a pair of wicker rocking chairs. There were chickens in a coop in the backyard.
Kling said she knew Paul Garman all her life, and that he was a retired utility company lineman who then ran a lawn care business until a year or so ago. If he saw her working on something, he would bring tools or equipment and pitch in.
“He was the nicest neighbor you would ever want to have. He would offer to fix anything,” she said.
Frank McDaniel, 68, called the Garmans “great people” and said Paul Garman “was a really nice guy who would be there in a heartbeat if you needed him.”
Dugan said the house lacked working smoke detectors and officials “would like to take this tragic opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of having functioning smoke detectors as early fire detection can truly save lives.”
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