Philadelphia, Pennsylvania An early Friday house fire in Philadelphia claimed the lives of a pregnant woman and her two children. Authorities think the fire was started on purpose.
Ashley Thompson and her 6-year-old twins, Alayna and Asad, have been confirmed as the victims. Thompson was seven months pregnant, according to family members, when the fire broke out at their home in the Strawberry Mansion area.
Early in the morning, neighbors reported that the fire was spreading quickly. “We looked out the window and it was completely engulfed in flames,” Yessenia Nieves, a local resident, told WCAU. As residents attempted to evacuate, the swift-moving fire left little time for escape.
The grandmother of the children was able to escape the flames by jumping from a window while carrying a baby during the chaos. The rest of the family was unable to escape, but the grandma lived through the fall.
Ongoing investigation and family grief
At least one person has been detained by investigators for interrogation; however, no charges have been brought. To find out how the fire started, the Philadelphia Fire Department is collaborating with law enforcement and federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. At the location, specialist investigative gear and detection dogs are being employed.
After the catastrophe, relatives expressed their shock and sadness. According to Chyna, a family member who also resided in the home, “I couldn’t even imagine who would want to hurt three babies and a pregnant girl.” In an interview with WPVI, she continued, “It doesn’t even seem real.” It’s a dream that she will call me when she wakes up tomorrow.
While the community grieves the death of the young family, authorities are still investigating the circumstances behind the terrible fire.
A pregnant woman and her children were killed in a house fire in Philadelphia, and detectives are looking for answers.