Investigators have released additional details from a fatal fire in Hatfield Township that left two residents dead and one injured early Friday morning.
Fire crews were dispatched to the 2800 block of Washington Lane around 4:20 a.m. on May 12 for a report of a residential fire with entrapment. Dispatch notes indicated two people were trapped on the second floor of the home with a fully involved fire on the first floor.
Hatfield Township Police arrived at the scene at 4:24 a.m. and reported heavy fire conditions in the front of the house with two of five residents still trapped inside. Arriving firefighters extinguished the bulk of the fire on the first floor then proceeded to the second floor to conduct a search for the victims, according to Hatfield Township Fire Marshal Mike Waldron.
Firefighters removed an adult male and female from separate second-floor bedrooms, with one being taken down the stairs and the other being rescued via ladder through a window, Waldron said. Both victims were transported to Jefferson Lansdale Hospital for treatment of injuries, however neither survived and both were pronounced dead.
Dispatch notes indicated the victims were a man and a woman, who have since been identified as 78-year-old Ghanshyam Patel, and 63-year-old Leenabahen Patel, respectively. As of Monday morning, the Montgomery County Coroner's Office has not released the autopsy results for the two victims, however a source with knowledge of the investigation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said both died as a result of smoke inhalation.
A third victim — identified as 65-year-old Bhupendrakumar Patel — was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital for treatment of burn injuries, officials said. He has since been released, according to Waldron.
Officials have confirmed previously undisclosed reports provided to North Penn Now stating firefighters at the scene did not hear any active smoke detectors sounding on the first or second floor of the home upon entering. Further investigation showed there was a functioning smoke detector located in the basement, however a second smoke detector that was located in the second-floor hallway appears to have failed to operate and alert the residents, according to Waldron.
Investigators, including fire marshals from Hatfield Township, Lansdale Borough, Upper Gwynedd Township, Pennsylvania State Police, along with members of the Hatfield Township Police Department’s Investigative Division, have continued to work to determine the cause of the fire, however no cause has been determined to date, Waldron said.
Units from the Hatfield Township Police Department, Hatfield Fire Company, Fairmount Fire Company, Towamencin Fire Company, Perseverance Fire Company, Hilltown Fire Company, and Volunteer Medical Service Corps of Lansdale assisted at the scene.
See also:
Officials Release Additional Details from Fatal Friday Morning Fire in Hatfield Township
2 Killed in Hatfield Township Fire Early Friday Morning
Lansdale Police Provide Update on Teen Struck by Vehicle Tuesday Afternoon
First Responders on Scene of Teen Struck by Vehicle in Lansdale
Police Provide Update as Search for Missing and Endangered Souderton Woman Continues
