3 killed, including child, in Kittanning duplex fire

KITTANNING, Pa. — Three people, including a child, are dead after a duplex fire in Kittanning early Monday.

The fire in the 1400 block of North Grant Avenue in Kittanning broke out shortly before 4 a.m.

>>>Click here for photos from the scene

Kittanning Hose Co. No. 6 Chief Scott Kline said that a man, woman and 3-year-old child were killed in the fire. Two other children, 5 and 7 years old, made it out.

The Armstrong County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as Kayla Whittaker, 28, Ryland Whittaker, 3, and Jason C. Blystone Jr., 26.

All three were found in a bedroom, per the coroner’s office.

“Armstrong County is only 65,000 people so you don’t like to see this stuff happen it takes an impact on everybody to have two adults and a small child perish in a fire,” said Armstrong County Coroner Brian Myers.

Two firefighters were hurt after falling through the floor from the second level to the first. They were taken to Armstrong County Memorial Hospital and are expected to be OK. The fire chief says his thoughts right now are with neighbors.

“It’s a deep tragedy, especially for a small community, there are times when drive by and you see these kids playing on the street,” fire chief Scott Kline said.

Channel 11 spoke with Janet Kasprack who lives on the other side of the duplex. She was asleep when the fire broke out.

“I woke up to the neighbor kid telling me that his steps were on fire and I saw a little fire and it spread like crazy,” Kasprack said. “I ran back to my house got my paralyzed husband out of bed and the paramedics and the cops helped carry him out,” she said.

Kasprack and other neighbors are in shock.

“It just really breaks your heart. It really breaks your heart,” she said.

“Everyone is going to need their prayers and everyone is going to need their help, they are going to need the help,” neighbor Lisa Schreckengost said.

The fire is under investigation by the PSP Fire Marshall and Kittanning Police.

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