Timothy died trying to rescue his niece from a fire at her house.
Youngstown Vindicator, January 13, 1996:
Child, uncle die as rescue try fails
Flames had engulfed the home when the first firefighters arrived.
Investigators sifted through a burned-out North Side home this morning searching for the cause of a Friday night fire that killed a 4-year-old girl and her uncle who tried to rescue her.
"We have no reason to believe at this time there was anything suspicious about it," said fire Lt. Bob Sharp, who was at 2920 Dearborn St. with members of the Metro Arson Strike Task Force.
The deadly blaze started in the first floor living room and spread throughout the two-story brick home.
What occured: Sharp estimated occupants spent five to seven minutes trying to put the fire out themselves. He called that a "huge" amount of time.
Fire truck arrival: The first truck arrived three minutes after receiving the call at 11:20 pm. Pointing down the street, Battalion Chief Jim Flynn said, "Beyond the stop sign, you could see it light up the sky."
Dead are 4-year-old Samantha Venzeio and her uncle, Timothy Venzeio, 33, who lived next door.
Mahoning County Coroner David Kennedy said both died of apparent smoke inhalation.
Rescue attempt: Officials said Venzeio entered the home to rescue his niece. Firefighters said both victims were found in an upstairs bedroom and were dead at the scene.
Officials said the girl's mother, Gene Venzeio, was treated at a hospital. Her son, Zachary, was in guarded condition today in Tod Children's Hospital.
Flames were leaping from every window in the home, said Sharp. The living room floor colappsed, leading to a gas leak that fed the fire for a while.
It was brought under control in about 30 minutes. Firefighters stayed at the scene until 1:50 am. The battalion chief, four pumpers and a ladder truck responded.
Investigators found two smoke detectors in the home this morning. "There was so much flame, even if they were working, they would have been destroyed," said the lieutenant.
Sharp called the scene "total devastation."
Youngstown Vindicator, January 13, 1996:
Child, uncle die as rescue try fails
Flames had engulfed the home when the first firefighters arrived.
Investigators sifted through a burned-out North Side home this morning searching for the cause of a Friday night fire that killed a 4-year-old girl and her uncle who tried to rescue her.
"We have no reason to believe at this time there was anything suspicious about it," said fire Lt. Bob Sharp, who was at 2920 Dearborn St. with members of the Metro Arson Strike Task Force.
The deadly blaze started in the first floor living room and spread throughout the two-story brick home.
What occured: Sharp estimated occupants spent five to seven minutes trying to put the fire out themselves. He called that a "huge" amount of time.
Fire truck arrival: The first truck arrived three minutes after receiving the call at 11:20 pm. Pointing down the street, Battalion Chief Jim Flynn said, "Beyond the stop sign, you could see it light up the sky."
Dead are 4-year-old Samantha Venzeio and her uncle, Timothy Venzeio, 33, who lived next door.
Mahoning County Coroner David Kennedy said both died of apparent smoke inhalation.
Rescue attempt: Officials said Venzeio entered the home to rescue his niece. Firefighters said both victims were found in an upstairs bedroom and were dead at the scene.
Officials said the girl's mother, Gene Venzeio, was treated at a hospital. Her son, Zachary, was in guarded condition today in Tod Children's Hospital.
Flames were leaping from every window in the home, said Sharp. The living room floor colappsed, leading to a gas leak that fed the fire for a while.
It was brought under control in about 30 minutes. Firefighters stayed at the scene until 1:50 am. The battalion chief, four pumpers and a ladder truck responded.
Investigators found two smoke detectors in the home this morning. "There was so much flame, even if they were working, they would have been destroyed," said the lieutenant.
Sharp called the scene "total devastation."
Timothy died trying to rescue his niece from a fire at her house.
Youngstown Vindicator, January 13, 1996:
Child, uncle die as rescue try fails
Flames had engulfed the home when the first firefighters arrived.
Investigators sifted through a burned-out North Side home this morning searching for the cause of a Friday night fire that killed a 4-year-old girl and her uncle who tried to rescue her.
"We have no reason to believe at this time there was anything suspicious about it," said fire Lt. Bob Sharp, who was at 2920 Dearborn St. with members of the Metro Arson Strike Task Force.
The deadly blaze started in the first floor living room and spread throughout the two-story brick home.
What occured: Sharp estimated occupants spent five to seven minutes trying to put the fire out themselves. He called that a "huge" amount of time.
Fire truck arrival: The first truck arrived three minutes after receiving the call at 11:20 pm. Pointing down the street, Battalion Chief Jim Flynn said, "Beyond the stop sign, you could see it light up the sky."
Dead are 4-year-old Samantha Venzeio and her uncle, Timothy Venzeio, 33, who lived next door.
Mahoning County Coroner David Kennedy said both died of apparent smoke inhalation.
Rescue attempt: Officials said Venzeio entered the home to rescue his niece. Firefighters said both victims were found in an upstairs bedroom and were dead at the scene.
Officials said the girl's mother, Gene Venzeio, was treated at a hospital. Her son, Zachary, was in guarded condition today in Tod Children's Hospital.
Flames were leaping from every window in the home, said Sharp. The living room floor colappsed, leading to a gas leak that fed the fire for a while.
It was brought under control in about 30 minutes. Firefighters stayed at the scene until 1:50 am. The battalion chief, four pumpers and a ladder truck responded.
Investigators found two smoke detectors in the home this morning. "There was so much flame, even if they were working, they would have been destroyed," said the lieutenant.
Sharp called the scene "total devastation."
Youngstown Vindicator, January 13, 1996:
Child, uncle die as rescue try fails
Flames had engulfed the home when the first firefighters arrived.
Investigators sifted through a burned-out North Side home this morning searching for the cause of a Friday night fire that killed a 4-year-old girl and her uncle who tried to rescue her.
"We have no reason to believe at this time there was anything suspicious about it," said fire Lt. Bob Sharp, who was at 2920 Dearborn St. with members of the Metro Arson Strike Task Force.
The deadly blaze started in the first floor living room and spread throughout the two-story brick home.
What occured: Sharp estimated occupants spent five to seven minutes trying to put the fire out themselves. He called that a "huge" amount of time.
Fire truck arrival: The first truck arrived three minutes after receiving the call at 11:20 pm. Pointing down the street, Battalion Chief Jim Flynn said, "Beyond the stop sign, you could see it light up the sky."
Dead are 4-year-old Samantha Venzeio and her uncle, Timothy Venzeio, 33, who lived next door.
Mahoning County Coroner David Kennedy said both died of apparent smoke inhalation.
Rescue attempt: Officials said Venzeio entered the home to rescue his niece. Firefighters said both victims were found in an upstairs bedroom and were dead at the scene.
Officials said the girl's mother, Gene Venzeio, was treated at a hospital. Her son, Zachary, was in guarded condition today in Tod Children's Hospital.
Flames were leaping from every window in the home, said Sharp. The living room floor colappsed, leading to a gas leak that fed the fire for a while.
It was brought under control in about 30 minutes. Firefighters stayed at the scene until 1:50 am. The battalion chief, four pumpers and a ladder truck responded.
Investigators found two smoke detectors in the home this morning. "There was so much flame, even if they were working, they would have been destroyed," said the lieutenant.
Sharp called the scene "total devastation."
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