Cats, Dogs Die in Old Lincoln Highway House Fire

(Story by Bob Byrne)

Fire destroyed a single family home in the 300 block of Old Lincoln Highway during rush hour Tuesday morning.

Three adults and one child were reportedly inside at the time of the fire, but were able to get out of the house before emergency services arrived. The four were taken Paoli Hospital by ambulance. 

An EMT on the scene tells Patch that the child was "a toddler" who was taken to Paoli Hospital to be checked out. The child's condition is not known, but the child "did not appear to have serious injuries."

Neighbor Lynne Hockenbury tells Patch that she saw one of the women in the house being wheeled to an ambulance at the corner. Hockenbury says the woman said all four people in the house, including two other adults and a baby, were able to get out but that their animals were not.  

Fire officials on the scene confirm that two cats and two dogs were killed in the fire. Their breeds are not currently known.

The fire started at about 7:30 a.m., according to Malvern Fire Chief Neil Vaughn.

Fire companies from all over Chester County, including Malvern, Paoli, Berwyn, East Whiteland, West Chester and Phoenixville responded to the call.

Patch will update this story as it develops.