House fire leads to death of 10-month-old boy
A 10-month-old Fayette County boy died early Saturday morning as a result of injuries he sustained from a house fire in Georges Township.
Jace Haines was transported from the scene along Morgantown Road to Uniontown Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 5:44 a.m. by Fayette County Coroner Dr. Phillip E. Reilly. Reilly said the cause of death was smoke inhalation and asphyxiation due to carbon monoxide.
According to state police, the fire started around 5 a.m. Saturday. Trooper Jay Hundertmark, criminal investigator, said Haines was sleeping at the time of the incident in his downstairs bedroom of the two-story house. His mother, Kelly J. Myers, who was reportedly sleeping on a sofa downstairs, was able to escape the fire with no serious injuries. Hundertmark said Myers was also transported to Uniontown Hospital, but did not have details of her treatment there.
Lead investigators, including fire marshal Trooper William Large, were on the scene Saturday afternoon examining the burned structure to determine what started the blaze. Hundertmark said the fire is still under investigation and no cause had been determined as of press time.
Paul Lesher, a coworker of Myers, said she is a social worker at Albert Gallatin Amedisys Hospice at the Uniontown Mall. Lesher said Myers has two other children who live in the home, but were staying with relatives in West Virginia at the time of the fire.
Lesher, who is also the pastor at the Fairchance Free Methodist Church, said he spent the immediate hours following the fire with Myers, helping her through her grief and making funeral arrangements.
“She is doing okay,” he said. “She doesn’t have any family who lives nearby, but the Red Cross and her friends and neighbors have been helping her.”
Lesher said the Fairchance church has set up a fund for Myers and her older children, a 16-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter.
“We are able to take checks, cash and donated items,” he said. “I was there at the house and it’s a total loss. People can make contributions of clothing and other items.”
Lesher said he and other pastors from area churches have already started to plan fundraising efforts for the near future to benefit the family. Those wishing to make a donation can call 724-564-5000.