Mother, 2 Children Rescued from Burning House

A mother and her two children were rescued from their Richboro home late Tuesday night after a neighbor reported seeing flames coming from the house, according to the fire chief.

The Northampton Township Volunteer Fire Company was dispatched to 450 Worthington Mill Rd. at 11:47 p.m., Fire Chief Adam Selisker told Patch. The report was called in by a neighbor who was out walking her dog.

"We saw fire coming from the side of the house," Selisker said. "No one had evacuated the house."

The firefighters forced open the front door to find that three people were still inside. The firefighters and the police department took the people—a mother and her two children—out of the home, Selisker added.

"We woke them up by breaking in the door," Selisker said.

The fire took place on the second floor of the two-story home, and was confined to an upstairs bedroom, bathroom and storage area. 

The mother and two children were sleeping upstairs in a separate bedroom and did not know the house was on fire, Selisker explained.

"If the neighbor didn't report the fire, it could have been a real tragedy," Selisker said.

Responders didn't hear an activated smoke detector when in the house. Selisker said one detector was seen, but it is unknown as to whether it had batteries or why it wasn't working.

"This is why it is important for every house to have at least a smoke detector on every floor and one in every bedroom," Selisker said.

Though the fire didn't spread through the entire house and was confined to the upstairs area, Selisker said, "enough damage was done that they can't live there for now."

In addition to fire departments from Northampton, Southampton and Lingohocken Fire Company's also responded to the fire.

As for now, the cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Fire Marshall.