Officials: Arson 'likely' after woman, 20, with cerebral palsy killed in Delaware County fire
DELAWARE COUNY - Tragedy struck a Delaware County family this weekend after a devastating blaze broke out, leaving a 20-year-old woman dead and a home destroyed.
Fire crews responded as flames erupted from a 3-story home on the 600 block of Sharon Avenue in Darby Township around midnight Sunday. It took firefighters about an hour to place it under control.
Officials say a woman with cerebral palsy was killed in the fire after her nurse tried to help her escape. The nurse sustained non-life-threatening burn-related injuries.
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Five people, including the woman who died, were inside the home when fire erupted.
A neighbor told FOX 29 that the family has lived in the home for about 10 years, and were loved by everyone.
"Very disheartening, very sad," she said. "They got out with the clothes on their backs. I can’t imagine, but whatever we can do as neighbors to help that’s what we’re gonna do, that’s what we do on this block, we help each other out."
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but officials tell FOX 29 that the probability of arson is very high. A suspect is currently in custody on unrelated charges.