Neighbors grieve outside of the wreckage of Wednesday’s fire.
Kevin Carroll | Times Leader
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Flowers laid on the site of a deadly house fire in Shickshinny Wednesday morning. Four are dead and one victim is in critical condition after the fire, which destroyed a Furnace Street home.
Kevin Carroll | Times Leader
The rubble left after Wednesday’s deadly fire.
Kevin Carroll | Times Leader
SHICKSHINNY — State police are investigating the cause of a fire that claimed four lives at a home on Furnace Street Wednesday morning.
Luzerne County coroner Frank Hacken confirmed the deaths of four individuals after the blaze, which started around 7 a.m. on Wednesday.
State police said a total of eight people lived inside the house. Two of the occupants of the home were transported to local hospitals; one remained in critical condition as of Wednesday evening. Two other individuals were able to escape the fire unharmed.
Resident Michael Shoemaker confirmed to reporters on scene that he had managed to jump out of a second-story window to escape the fire, but several of his family members, including his wife and one of his sons, were unable to make it out.
“I jumped out so I could try and catch them, to save them,” he said. “I don’t even know what to say … I lost everything.”
Shoemaker also said that his four dogs were killed in the blaze.
A few neighbors on Furnace Street recounted their experiences as the fire burned.
“Our whole house shook,” said one woman, who said that there was “an explosion” that started the incident earlier in the morning.
There’s no word yet on what may have caused the fire, or where it may have originated from inside the house. State police from the Troop P Shickshinny barracks, including a state police fire marshal, are investigating the fire.
Autopsies for the deceased are scheduled for today to determine the cause and manner of death.
A GoFundme account has been established to help Shoemaker and his family. The message says Shoemaker lost everything including four members of his family in the fire. As of Wednesday night, over $7,500 had been amassed from nearly 150 different donors. Look for “Help Mike after tragic house fire” to donate.
Shoemaker said that he would be heading toward Wilkes-Barre Wednesday evening to be close to his son, currently in critical condition at an area hospital.
The Red Cross has been called in and will be assisting the victims in the aftermath of the fire.
“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this fire. Our team is working to bring the full breadth of our services to support them and this community,” stated Sherry Nealon, executive director of the American Red Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania chapter.
