3 In Critical After Fire That Killed 4

Authorities say three people remain in critical condition after a fire that killed four people.

Fire officials say the blaze started in the kitchen of a three-story Lancaster duplex around 3 a.m. Thursday after frozen potatoes were left in the oven. Investigators say 14 people lived in the home and that nine were taken to hospitals. Three remain in critical condition.

Lancaster County coroner Stephen Diamantoni says autopsies on the four victims are scheduled for Friday.

One victim has been identified by fire authorities and a relative as the homeowner, 65-year-old Jimmie Moore. Fire Chief Timothy Gregg also says a man in his early 40s was pronounced dead at the scene, while two children died later at Lancaster General Hospital.

"Rest in peace, Dad," one of Moore's daughters, Cyrena Brock, 34, told The (Lancaster) Intelligencer Journal. "He was a hero to me."
 
A man in his early 40s was pronounced dead at the scene, while two children died later at Lancaster General Hospital, Fire Chief Timothy Gregg said.
 
Three people were transferred to the burn center at Crozer Chester Medical in critical condition, while one person was admitted to the hospital in serious condition, a nursing supervisor at Lancaster General Hospital said. Several other people were treated and released.
 
Two other children were rescued and taken to the hospital. Gregg said all the children ranged in age from 2 to 8 years old, but he wouldn't give the ages of the two who died.
 
County coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni said autopsies on the four victims are scheduled for Friday
 
The home didn't have smoke detectors, Gregg said. Fire crews got the flames under control in about an hour, he said.
 
Neighbors and relatives described Moore as a generous man and Vietnam War veteran who let another family move in after they lost their own housing.
 
"He was a very friendly man," neighbor Molly Lalla told the newspaper. "He would walk down the alley and say hi and wave. He brought a box of toys to my kids."
 
Ken Sheetz said Moore was the first one to welcome him to the block when he moved there.
 
"He was a caring person," Sheetz said. "He loved his family