3 killed, 3 injured in Virginia Beach house fire
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive December 2004:
3 killed, 3 injured in Virginia Beach house fire
Two children and one adult were killed and another three people hospitalized after a fire broke out at a house in Virginia Beach early Christmas morning, fire officials said.
Steve Bartneck's 4-year-old daughter, his sister and his niece died in the fire, while Bartneck, his wife Patty and their oldest daughter survived.
The two surviving adults were taken to Sentara Norfolk General in critical condition, while 14-year-old Nichole Bartneck is in serious condition at CHKD.
"I've cried a little bit," said neighbor James Kennedy. "I've been friends with him since he moved here, and they've always been nice people to us."
Investigators are still trying to figure out how the fire started. Battalion Chief Michael Wade said the family's Christmas tree did not appear to be the cause.
"Any fatality you have is always a tragedy, but on a day like today, it makes it even sadder," Wade said.
The fire broke out around 3:30 a.m. at the back of the house. It took 25 firefighters about half an hour to get the blaze under control.
Firefighters rescued the woman and girl who were later hospitalized, Wade said. They also brought out the 4-year-old, who died later. The 43-year-old woman and 9-year-old child were found dead in the back room of the house, he said.
The man who was hospitalized got out of the house himself, Wade said, and a 14-year-old made it out safely.
"Last night, they were having a good time, driving around in their pickup truck, singing Christmas carols," said Hector Arroyo of Virginia Beach, whose parents live next door. "We don't know what happened after that."
That is so horrible, words could not describe. 
There was a news story about an accident on Christmas Eve that killed four people - the driver of one vehicle and three of the four people in the other vehicle. The only survivor, a young girl, lost her parents and sister and is now orphaned. The TV coverage showed presents, stuffed animals and clothes strewn on the highway.
Made me hug my family a little tighter this Christmas.
Me too Sunny.
We are so blessed.
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