Slatington woman dies in 'suspicious' house fire

Smoky blaze claims life of widow, who was afflicted with Lou Gehrig's disease.
By Andrew C. Martel | Of The Morning Call
February 5, 2009



Lisa and Larry House were dying together. So they decided to make the time they had left count.

In 2007, the Slatington couple rented a car and drove cross-country to Montana, where they spent a few weeks in a cabin.

''That was their dream: to buy a cabin and live in the woods,'' said Larry's sister, Rilinda Fetherolf. ''We were shocked ..., but when they came back safely, we were so glad they took it.''

Larry died last August at age 50 from complications related to a decades-long battle with cancer. Lisa, 47, had endured amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly called Lou Gehrig's disease, since 2007.



But the disease didn't kill her. She died early Wednesday after a fire trapped her in her bedroom. An unidentified person escaped from the home, the Slatington fire chief said.

The Lehigh County district attorney's office is calling the case ''a suspicious fire and death,'' but authorities said they had not determined what caused the fire at 424 W. Washington St.

House was pronounced dead at 12:11 a.m. at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, about an hour after the fire started, Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim said.

She was in cardiac arrest when firefighters pulled her out, but they later regained a pulse before transporting her to the hospital, according to police radio reports.

Slatington Police Chief Dave Bachman said he didn't know whether House's disability prevented her from escaping. ALS is typically a fatal condition in which neurons controlling muscle movement degenerate, causing the patient to lose the ability to move and breathe.

An autopsy was done. The cause of death was attributed to smoke inhalation and the manner of death is pending further investigation, Grim said in a news release.

Lisa House was the only person in the home when firefighters arrived, said Keith Weaver, chief of the Slatington Volunteer Fire Company. He said one person escaped before firefighters arrived and was not hurt. He would not identify that person.

Four people living in the other half of the twin were unhurt. Their house was not damaged and they returned to it Wednesday, Weaver said.

He said heavy smoke was pouring from the roof of the duplex when firefighters arrived, but the fire ''was knocked down relatively quick. The rescue was done relatively quick.''

He estimated 45 volunteers fought the fire.

Slatington police, the district attorney's office and state police are investigating, according to First Assistant District Attorney Steven Luksa.

Fetherolf remembered her sister-in-law as a woman with a beautiful spirit, very helpful, devoted to horses and her husband.

''She called him her 'house man.' They just adored each other,'' Fetherolf said. ''They inspired others to have a better relationship. I know they inspired me to.''

Larry, who was in charge of maintenance at a local motel and at AmeriCold Logistics in Fogelsville, was married to Lisa, a cafeteria services employee for the Northern Lehigh School District, for nearly 16 years. They raised her son, Chad Lever, together. Chad, an adult, was the only person closer to Lisa than her husband, Fetherolf said.

Her home looked only slightly damaged Wednesday. Plywood covered the second-floor windows, and the siding nearby was singed. A pile of toiletries and appliances lay in the driveway, and a wheelchair access ramp ran from there to the front door.

As the family prepared for its second funeral in less than six months, Fetherolf remembered her sister-in-law's generosity. She also recalled their days horseback riding together. Lisa loved horses so much that Larry paid for her weekly riding lessons.

''That was the love of her life: horses,'' Fetherolf said. ''Well, besides Larry.''


http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-...,1538471.story

Family of Woman Killed in House Fire Speak Out

She battled Lou Gehrig's disease for years. But in the end, Slatington, Lehigh County resident Lisa House would lose her life to a fire. House died yesterday. Now, her family is trying to deal with the devastating loss. But even through their grief, her sisters are hoping to get out a message to other families. WFMZ's Jaccii Farris reports. >> DENISE REESER: This is very hard for all of us to deal with and we are trying the best we can to get through it. >> FARRIS: Denise Reeser and Donna Blose are coping with the loss of their sister Lisa House. Tuesday, House died from smoke inhalation after her Slatington home caught on fire. Investigators aren't saying what started the fire. The Lehigh County District Attorney's office has preliminarily classified the fire and death as suspicious.. and continues to investigate. >> DENISE This was an accident it was a horrible horrible accident.. >> FARRIS: Reeser says her sister's son Chad lived in the West Washington Street home and tried to save his mother from the flames.. My nephew got burned on his nose and his ears and his sneakers were singed to the point that they were almost burned onto his feet. >> FARRIS: Reeser says Chad is devastated by the loss of his mother.. and the entire family is seeking counseling. She says her sister had Lou Gehrig's disease... And despite equipping Lisa's home to accommodate her disability.. The family failed to have an emergency plan. Please please if you have a disabled person in your house please make sure they have a quick route out in case of a fire. >> FARRIS: Funeral services for House will be held on Monday. Her family is asking friends to donate to the ALS Society in Lisa's name.. as a tribute to the way she lived her life. >> DENISE REESER: Most people when they get sick they get depressed, Lisa didn't, Lisa kept hoping. That's how Lisa was and that's how Lisa would want to be remembered.

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http://wfmz.com/view/?id=629287