Couple Dies In Fire

March 21, 2008

LEACOCK TOWNSHIP, LANCASTER CO. -- Fire strikes a home in the Amish community early Friday morning, claiming the lives of the owners, Emanuel and Sarah Zook, who were trapped inside.

The flames were wind-whipped and the fire had a good start before firefighters arrived.

Neighbors rushed to rescue the Leacock Township couple.

"I was still in bed this morning and ran over as soon as I could get some clothes on and it was fully involved. There was no way you could get in," said a neighbor.

Firefighters said the couple was sleeping in their bedroom when the fire spread. It's located on the right side of the home where the fire started.

"We determined the fire started in the back of the house in the area of a propane heater," said Anthony Thomas, State Police Fire Marshal.

Police have declared it an accidental fire.

Thomas said there were no working smoke detectors inside the home, something that is permitted and encouraged within the Amish community.