Overloaded Outlet Caused Fire That Killed Delco Twin Sisters: Reports

UPPER DARBY, PA — Officials in Delaware County have identified the cause of a fire that killed twin sisters earlier this month.

Upper Darby Fire Chief Derrick Sawyer said the fire at a rowhome in Upper Darby was caused by an overloaded electrical outlet, according to Action News.

The fire broke out at about 4 a.m. April 4 at a home on the 300 block of Margate Road.

Initial reports said four people were in the home, but firefighters found just two children in a second floor bedroom, according to Sawyer.

They were 5-year-old twin sisters Eva and Ava Brown-Williams.

Their mother, Robyn Brown, escaped the fire out of a back second floor window, but was hurt and taken to a hospital.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched for the Brown family.

As of Thursday, about $15,500 has been raised.

Two firefighters suffered minor burns in fighting the fire, Sawyer said.

The fire was placed under control in about 24 minutes, he said.

"You have to have smoke alarms. You have to have an escape plan," Sawyer said.

Upper Darby residents can request new smoke alarms from the fire department online here.

Sawyer iterated the phrase "close before you doze," which aims to encourage closing doors before going to sleep.

Doing so can prevent fire from spreading to other areas of a home, giving much needed time to escape a burning structure, according to Sawyer.

"If those doors were closed, those children may not have died," he said.