COATESVILLE — A two-alarm fire tore through a home late Saturday, killing three children only hours after a birthday celebration.

Fire crews were able to rescue two adults, but police said three children died: Brian Westmoreland, 11, Tyrone Hill, 4, and Tyzhier Hill, 3. Desiree Wylie and Jessica Torres were treated and released from a hospital, and another unidentified person also was treated, police said. It was not immediately clear how the adults were related to the children.

Neighbors said a birthday party to celebrate the recent birthdays of Brian and Tyzhier had been held the afternoon before the flames broke out.

GREENSBURG — A woman is safe after her dog chased off a violent assailant in Linn Run State Park.State police in Greensburg say the woman was attacked at about 8 p.m. Wednesday while she was walking her dog near Adams Falls.They say the 6-foot-tall, 200-pound white man grabbed the woman from the back of the shirt, pulling her to the ground. Police said the assailant then hit the woman in the face and on her arms. The victim's dog attacked the assailant, chasing him away.Police are not releasing the name of the victim. The suspect remains at large.

BROOKVILLE — A Jefferson County town and one of its churches are throwing the books at one another. For Brookville, the book is the law. Solicitor Stephen French has taken the church to court for housing the homeless in a commercial district, which he says violates zoning regulations.But the Rev. Jack Wisor, who heads the First Apostles Doctrine Church, said the book he follows — the Bible — requires him to help the needy.In August, a district judge fined Wisor $500 for allowing three homeless men to live in the parsonage. Wisor appealed to Common Pleas Court. A hearing is scet for November.