A birthday celebration turned fatal when four people, including three children, lost their lives in Pennsylvania, U.S., following a massive house fire, according to People magazine.

Fire department officials reported that firefighters received an alert about the blaze, finding the two-story building fully engulfed in flames, with fire visibly rising from the windows. At the time, ten people were trapped inside the house, including party guests, prompting reinforcements from approximately twelve additional fire departments.

Intense Fire Eruption

Rescue teams managed to evacuate three individuals immediately and transport them to local hospitals, but conditions inside the house worsened, forcing firefighters to retreat and continue extinguishing the fire from outside. Once the flames were partially under control, they re-entered the building and retrieved two more victims.

Aaron Sweitzer, head of the fire department, confirmed that crews initially attempted to fight the fire from inside but had to evacuate due to the intensity of the flames, adding: “The fire erupted intensely on both the first and second floors, and we couldn’t enter the building until fire suppression systems were prepared for safe access.”

The incident resulted in the deaths of four people aged between 1 and 73 years, while others sustained varying injuries, including one in critical condition and another in stable condition, with four others treated for minor injuries.

Police and the fire chief’s office are investigating the cause of the fire, which authorities say originated from an electrical outlet in the living room on the first floor and has been classified as accidental.