Medical examiner IDs brothers killed in German Twp. fire

GERMAN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The names of two elderly brothers killed Friday afternoon in a massive house fire in German Township, Fayette County, have been released.

James Shea and Wilbur Shea were killed in the blaze that tore through their Seventh Avenue home, the medical examiner confirmed.

Neighbor Robert Lindsay and another man tried to help the brothers, but intense flames and heavy smoke prevented them from making it inside the home.

“I grabbed a towel and got it wet and put it over my face, and the other guy did too, and we tried to go into the house and we just couldn’t,” said Lindsay.

Firefighters said they could see one brother in the hallway and the other nearby in the kitchen.

Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Huhn said, “The crews did try to make entry into the residence, but it did begin to collapse and they backed out.”

The thick smoke was clearly evident as Chopper 11 flew high above the scene.

A caregiver to one of the brothers told Channel 11 News that the man had trouble walking.

The fire marshal is working to determine what instigated the blaze.

WPXI