Three People Die In New Castle House Fire

(WPXI) – Three people were killed in a house fire early Wednesday morning in Lawrence County. One adult and two minors were found dead inside a home on West Clayton Street in New Castle after the home caught fire around 5:30 a.m., according to firefighters. When firefighters arrived there was fire on the right side of the house advancing to the second floor. The fire was put out rapidly, according to New Castle Fire Department Chief Michael Kobbe, but that is when the three victims were found. The Lawrence County Coroner’s Office has identified the victims as 41-year-old Courtney Payne, 17-year-old Terianna Payne-Hicks and 18-year-old Xzavia Booker. Courtney and Terianna are mother and daughter. Xzavia was a friend of Terianna.  Kobbe said the fire appears to have started in the area of the kitchen, and one high-school aged victim was found on the first floor, another victim on the staircase and an adult victim was found in an upstairs bedroom. The adult victim upstairs called 911.  Pennsylvania State Police are investigating, but the fire chief does not believe the fire was suspicious.