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Weirton Firefighters, Police Officer Save Family From Burning Home

Thursday, January 3, 2008 – updated: 7:45 pm EST January 3, 2008

Members of Weirton's two public safety agencies teamed up to help a family escape from the upper floors of their burning home Thursday morning.

When firefighters responded to the Heaslett Avenue home, they said two teenage girls were hanging from second -floor windows trying get away from the flames.

Firefighters rescued one of the girls, who was 18 years old, and a 16-year-old girl jumped from one of the windows to escape. A 14-year-old girl was rescued when Weirton police Officer Ryan Kuzma grabbed a nearby ladder to save the teen.

Officials said an artificial Christmas tree sparked the fire in the home's living room. Damages were estimated at about $30,000.

The three teens and 40-year-old Steven Wallace, another occupant of the home, were transported to Weirton Medical Center. Officials said some of the victims were transferred to a Pittsburgh hospital for smoke inhalation.

-Renee Cardelli & Chandi Lowry, NEWS9

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