Funeral arrangements begin for the five children who died in the house fire; tributes and fundraisers planned as the home still burns

The Erway family.

By JOHN ANDERSON

The flame still burns at the scene of the fatal house fire on 226 Slingerland Road in Genesee, Pa. as troopers have ruled the fire accidental and believe it started in the basement in a wood stove.

Troopers also said Michele Erway, the mother of the children who jumped out of the second floor of the home, is in the intensive care unit of Strong Memorial Hospital’s burn unit in Rochester.

The Olney-Foust Funeral Home of Ulysses, Pa., is handling the arrangements for the Erway children.

Raymond Charles Erway was 17, Tristan Wayne Erway was 16 and Evan Jordan Erway was 14. They attended Northern Potter High School. Mikalah Roulo, a cousin, was 16 and attended Wellsville High School where she was a sophomore. Krysta Kane, 16, a family friend, was a sophomore at Scio Central School.

Three children of Charles and Michele Erway died in the fire as well as a cousin and family friend.

Trooper Lauren Lesher explains the injuries to the parents and the results of the investigation.

“The deaths are being ruled accidental by the Potter County Coroner’s Officer said Coudersport-based State Police Trooper Lauren Lesher. “Michele and Charles Erway are currently at Strong Memorial Hospital’s burn unit. Michele has been listed in the burn unit intensive care and Charles in the in-patient unit.

Warning: This video contains images from the fire scene which may be sensitive for some of our readers.

Firefighters and investigators were no longer at the scene Tuesday afternoon and Lesher said because of the damage, the case is closed.

“Due to the damage of the home, the cause of the fire is being ruled undetermined,” Lesher said. “After a thorough investigation of the fire damage, it appears there was a possible issue with a wood stove or a chiminey, which might have been the cause. it has been determined the fire started in the basement of the home.

An Erway Family Fundraiser Auction Day will take place at the Northern Potter High School gym on Sunday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be held by the Headwaters FFA/4H and will feature gift auctions, food and more. Donation drop offs are at the Coudersport, Northern Potter, Cowanesque, Wellsboro and Otto-Eldred high school ag departments.

You can CLICK HERE for a link to our story with all of the GoFundMe accounts to help the three families.