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Neighbors Mourn Victim Of Fatal Duquesne Fire

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Jan 4, 2009 7:32 pm US/Eastern

Neighbors Mourn Victim Of Fatal Duquesne Fire

DUQUESNE (KDKA) ― Neighbors in Duquesne are mourning the loss of a member of their community who died during an overnight fire in her home.

Officials say 61-year-old Susan McGinnis died in a fire that broke out around 2:45 a.m. at the two-story home in the 100-block of Overland Avenue.

"She was really a kind person," said Loraine Meskanick, a neighbor. "She did everything for everybody. No matter whatever you ask of her; she did it. She helped all the neighbors around here."

Neighbor and witness to the fire, Mamie McKissick, said she came outside overnight and saw the flames two doors away. She says she saw the victim's brother calling his sister's name as firefighters arrived.

"Then, when I came back out here, that's when I seen the truck. One truck came up and he was saying, 'She's still upstairs, she's still upstairs,'" said McKissick. "There was so much black smoke coming out of the front there, there was no way in the world he could even get in there."

Authorities say they believe McGinnis and her two dogs were trapped in the upstairs bedroom of the house where she lived with her brother.

"Pulled up on scene, the back of the structure was fully involved, pretty much just attacked it," said Asst. Fire Chief Martin Bell, of the Duquesne Fire Department. "We tried to gain access to get the victim out. The fire was too intense."

Duquesne firefighters eventually brought the blaze under control, and then they were able to find the victim.

Meanwhile, neighbors are just trying to find a way to say goodbye.

"All I can say is, you know, God's got her now and she is in a better place," said McKissick. "But, you know, we're all going to miss her, a beautiful, beautiful person." 


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