CHILD KILLED IN PARKERSBURG FIRE - Former Spencer Middle School Student

(06/26/2001)

A ten-year-old girl has died after being caught in a fire in her Parkersburg home. Police say Jennifer Salisbury was alone in the basement, sorting through a box of toys at about 3:15 Friday afternoon when vapors were ignited by a gas water heater. The family, which was in the process of adopting Jennifer, had just moved into the house four days earlier. Jennifer's foster father, 50-year-old John E. Longfellow, was burned while trying to get to her. His condition is unavailable. Jennifer was later removed through a window by a neighbor. She was taken to West Penn Burn Center in Pittsburgh, where she died Saturday morning. Jennifer would have turned eleven this Wednesday. Longfellow's wife, Charlotte, and a 12-year-old girl whose name hasn't been released were not injured in the blaze. The fire is still under investigation, but is believed to be accidental. Jennifer was a student at Spencer Middle School this past year. Funeral arrangements are pending at Taylor-Vandale Funeral Home in Spencer.

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