Penn Daw fire claims lives of two teens

Two teenage sisters died early Friday morning in a house fire in the Alexandria area, Fairfax County fire officials said.

The bodies of Morgan Whitsett, 16, and Ashley, 13, were found in a second-floor bedroom after firefighters brought the blaze under control, according to Lt. Willie Bailey of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.

Morgan attended West Potomac High School, and Ashley attended Carl Sandberg Middle School, according to WUSA, Channel 9. The girls died from carbon monoxide poisoning, based on a preliminary cause of death determination, Bailey said. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Neighbors said their 53-year-old father, Louis, tried to enter the building to rescue the girls, according to News Channel 8, although the fire officials would not identify him. He was unable to get back inside to save them, Bailey said. He was airlifted to a District hospital to be treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation, Bailey said, and a woman was taken to a local hospital for observation.

Firefighters received the call about the fire at the Popkins Lane home at 12:30 a.m., and brought the blaze under control in about 30 minutes, according to a department statement, which said damage is estimated at $200,000. The Red Cross is aiding displaced family members

.The Fire Department has not announced what started the blaze, which remains under investigation.

wflook@dcexaminer.com

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