Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 19, 1994 TAG: 9401190071
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KAREN BARNES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The blaze, which firefighters think started with a kerosene heater, killed Tina Kane, 4; John Kane, 2; and Margaret Elizabeth Kane, almost 1. Their mother, Dorothy Kane, remained in serious condition in Roanoke Memorial Hospital's neurotrauma intensive care unit recovering from burns and smoke inhalation.
Kenny Martin, who also lived in the mobile home, was treated for burns to his hands and face and was released. He suffered the injuries trying to pull Dorothy Kane through a back bedroom window.
Neither Martin nor Kane has insurance, said family friend Helen Bush. So she is collecting money to help the couple.
But first, she wants to raise money to pay for the children's funeral. "If we can give them a good funeral, that'd be great," she said.
Although no arrangements have been made, the funeral probably will be this week, she said.
Autopsies were performed Tuesday, and results should be available within 10 days, a medical examiner's assistant said.
The blaze occurred about 9:30 a.m. in the Hardy Road Trailer Park. Firefighters arrived within minutes but found the mobile home engulfed in flames.
A kerosene heater and a supply of kerosene were found outside the mobile home. Two heaters were discovered in the baby's bedroom, where all three bodies were found, said Stewartsville Fire Chief Mark Hartberger.
The Bedford County Sheriff's Office is investigating the fire. No additional information on its cause was available Tuesday.
Donations for the children's funeral may be sent to the Kane/Martin Foundation, Signet Bank, in care of Cindy Radford, 901 Hardy Road, Vinton 24179.
Including the Kane children, 10 Western Virginians have died in heating-related fires since Jan. 1. Heaters are the leading cause of fire deaths, according to a state fire official.
by CNB