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Minersville girl dies after being rescued from fire

A girl rescued from a house fire in Minersville Friday has died.

The Lehigh County Coroner’s office said Nyah-Ann Barnwell, 12, died Sunday at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. She was pronounced dead at 10:13 a.m.

Coroner Eric D. Minnich ruled the cause of death due to complications of inhalation from the fire. The manner of death is accidental.

The fire is still under investigation.

Displaced were Patrick Elias, 58, Sherley Francois, 36, Nalani. Barnwell, 14, Jonathan Barnwell, 19, Abigail Elias, 7, Isiah Elias, 9 months, and Anthony Elias, 4.

Minersville Police Chief Michael Combs said the approximate 4 p.m. house fire came in as a structure fire with entrapment. It was upgraded to a three-alarm fire, prompting fire companies throughout Schuylkill County to respond.

Combs arrived on scene and was told the girl, who was the only one inside during the fire, was upstairs. Her parents heard her yelling and went inside to try to get to her.

“I yelled. I called to her,” Combs said, adding he received no response.

The girl had run into the bedroom before he arrived after being in a nearby room, he said. Firefighters did rescue her. She was flown to the hospital.

“It’s a tragedy whenever it’s a loss of life,” he said.

Combs said the home had no working smoke detectors.

He said the cause of the fire is unknown, but it originated in the room where the girl was.

“The fire started on that mattress,” Combs said.

State Police Fire Marshal John Burns was also on scene to investigate. Along with fire companies, police from Minersville, Branch, Cass and Foster townships responded.