May 19--INDIANA -- Three people are dead following a mobile home fire early Sunday in White Township, Indiana County.
The Indiana County coroner's office reported several fire crews responded to Keystone Drive, just west of the borough, around 3:30 a.m. Sunday.
Some residents reported hearing an explosion before noticing the trailer was entirely engulfed in flames.
A family of three was trapped inside, according to a news release, and Coroner Jerry Overman Jr. said neighbors, who knew the residents were home when the trailer caught fire, tried to rescue them.
"I had one report of somebody that tried to get them out by breaking windows. They cut their hand," he said.
Rescue attempts were unsuccessful.
After the fire was contained, which took less than an hour, Overman said, all three victims were found dead in a rear bedroom: Shawn Marsh, 28, Marsh's longtime live-in girlfriend, Nicole Novak, 27, and Novak's daughter, Gabbriella, 9.
The family's two dogs were found with them.
The manner of death for all three victims is pending, although Overman said he suspects they died from smoke inhalation. Autopsies are scheduled today at Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown. Toxicology reports also have been ordered.
State fire marshals will look into the cause of the fire.
Fire crews from Indiana, Homer City, Clymer and Coral-Graceton responded to the blaze, along with an Indiana County Rapid Intervention Group team. Citizens Ambulance personnel were on standby.
Justin Dennis is a multimedia reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter at @JustinDennis.
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