Jeannette police officers, neighbor honored for rescues made at fatal house fire

Miranda John wiped away tears as the six men who rescued her and two of her children from their burning home in Jeannette were honored Thursday night.

“I am grateful for them because, honestly, if it wasn’t for them, I probably wouldn’t be here,” she said afterward. “Yes, they couldn’t save all of them, but it’s at least myself and the boys.”

The five police officers and neighbor put up a ladder and worked together to help John and the two children, ages 10 and 1, escape the flames March 20 on Guy Street. Killed in the blaze were John’s fiancee, Tyler J. King, 27, and their children Kyson John, 7, Kinzleigh John, 6, Keagan John, 3, and Korbyn John, 1 month.

John, along with her mother, Heather John, chatted outside Jeannette City Hall with the officers and neighbor after they were recognized by council members for their bravery.

Council honored neighbor Jack Mull, city Officers Bryan DeFelice, Matthew Painter and Jake Fazekas and Sgt. James Phillips and Penn Township Officer Luke Lock during Thursday’s council meeting.

Each got a plaque and a standing ovation.

“This is beyond the imagination. It was very nice of the mayor, the city to do this,” Mull said. “The police officers, they were outstanding at that fire. Everybody joined together to help those people.”

The blaze was reported at 12:02 a.m. DeFelice was there at 12:03 a.m., according to Mayor Curtis Antoniak. Two minutes later, he was joined by fellow officers and city firefighters, as well as Mull.

“Very rarely does the average person get to see first-hand, and experience, true selfless acts of heroism,” Phillips said. “… I’m truly honored to call them my friends because I got to witness that first-hand that day.”

The home was destroyed. Three people escaped from a neighboring house that caught fire, as well.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

In the aftermath, community members rallied around the family, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for them and offering help in other ways, such as supportive messages and phone calls, Heather John said.

“I’m grateful,” Miranda John said. “There’s no way I could repay anyone anything.”