Two Found Dead in Fire Friday Morning

Two are dead after a fire swept through a home in the 1200 block of Gail Road in West Goshen Township Friday morning.

Officials from the West Goshen police and fire departments received a report of a dwelling fire at approximately 7:13 a.m.

Upon arrival at the scene, officers saw heavy smoke coming from the roof area.

Fire personnel made entry and located two people, one male and one female inside the residence.  Medical personnel pronounced both people dead at the scene.

The Daily Local reports that the two people have been identified as Robert O’Neill, 85, and Irene O’Neill, 68, according to the West Goshen Police Department. Both were pronounced dead at the scene from what appeared to be smoke inhalation.

Stone told the Daily Local that investigators believe the cause of the fire was electrical in nature and accidental, but fire marshals are still investigating. A caretaker left the home at 10 p.m. Thursday and everything was fine, Stone said.

According to police, fire personnel found the male subject on the floor in a room at the rear of the residence, and the female was found on the floor between two beds that were set up in the living room area.

According to police, the inside of the residence was in “deplorable” condition, which made it difficult for firefighters to make initial entry into the residence.

Police do not believe weather played a roll in the fire, and they say the fire does not appear to be suspicious.

The fire is being investigated by detectives from West Goshen Police, the West Goshen Fire Marshal, Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal and the Chester County Fire Marshal.

Assisting Goshen Fire Department was Good Will Fire Department, Fame Fire Department, West Whiteland Fire Department and Good Fellowship Fire Department.