Elizabeth Liptak dies in fatal Jeannette house fire
Fatal Jeannette house fire death of Elizabeth Liptak – Obituary
Elizabeth Liptak, 67, passed away after a fire erupted in her home in Jeannette, Westmoreland County on Wednesday evening.
Emergency crews were called to the residence located near Scott Avenue and North 9th Street just before 5 p.m. after receiving reports of a house engulfed in flames.
When first responders arrived, they encountered heavy black smoke and had difficulty entering the home. Neighbors reported that thick plumes of dark smoke poured from the house as firefighters broke through the front windows in an effort to reach those inside.
According to neighbor Larry Stauffer, piles of debris and garbage severely hindered rescue efforts. “They broke the front window, but even then, they couldn’t get in because of all the junk. They had to climb onto the roof and break upper windows. It was filled with garbage,” he said.
Jeannette Fire Captain Josh Rettger said firefighters battled through several feet of debris while searching for Liptak. “We were moving through chest-deep clutter to get to where we believed she might be,” Rettger said. “Two minutes after we got in, we located her, but she had already died under the debris.”
Authorities determined the fire was accidental. The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal reported that it started on the kitchen stove and rapidly spread due to the amount of clutter inside the home.
Matt Williams, founder of the non-profit Fight the Blight, highlighted that hoarding can be life-threatening. He urged communities to recognize the seriousness of hoarding disorder and approach it with compassion and a focus on safety. “People deserve to live in a space where they can safely enjoy the things they value,” he said.
