Investigation Continues Into Fatal Donora Fire

December 26, 2023 2:30 am

(WPXI) – Two people were killed in a house fire in Washington County early on Christmas eve.  The fire started around 5 a.m. along McKean Avenue in Donora.  At least three homes were damaged in the fire, and several people were displaced.  Washington County Coroner Tim Warco identified one of the victims as Tracy Honabarger, 41. She had become trapped in the home. She was pronounced dead at an area hospital.  The second victim has been identified as Clifford Honabarger, 38.   James Smith, Tracy Honabarger’s fiancé, was also inside the home at the time but was able to escape.  Smith said flames tore through their home as they were all sleeping.  He said he thought Tracy was right behind him as he was running out of the house, but she became trapped on the second floor.  Around a dozen agencies responded to the fire. The blaze remains under investigation by the Donora Police Department.  This is the second fire on McKean Avenue in less than two weeks.  On Dec. 14, a fire destroyed an old apartment building blocks away.