Father of 3 identified as man killed in house fire
State police identified Sam Lawson, a Jefferson Township father of three who worked as a grounds keeper, as the man who died in Thursday's house fire.
The fire broke out around 2:30 p.m. at the 1½-story, Cape Cod-style home across the road from Eastmen Tire Supplies on Rockdale Road.
Two children were safely evacuated from the home before the structure became engulfed, according to firefighters. The third child was not in the home at the time of the fire.
Lawson's body was recovered from the home later.
According to his obituary, the 53-year-old worked as a grounds keeper for Seubert & Associates and attended the Butler Assembly of God. The obituary notes that Lawson enjoying working outside, including in his garden, hunting and spending time with his three children and attending their sporting events.
He is survived by his wife, Amy, of nearly 17 years and three children.
Lawson was a 1987 graduate of Knoch High School, according to his obituary.
The Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company appeared on site first Thursday. Many other fire departments responded to the scene as more support became needed throughout the afternoon. At least nine fire stations were called to the area along with dozens of other emergency departments from around Butler, Allegheny and Armstrong counties.
Fire companies were called from various parts of the county including East Butler, Herman, Meridian, Oneida Valley, Buffalo Township and many others.
Roughly 11 truckloads of water, about 33,000 gallons, were used on the fire, which appeared to rekindle with gusts of wind that stoked the fire from time to time.
Several fire departments were called again later to the scene around 9 p.m.
State police said the outbreak of the fire didn't appear to be suspicious but the cause and origin are still unknown as authorities continue to investigate it.
The Butler County Coroner's office was conducting an autopsy Friday night.
Within hours of the fire, a family friend started a
fundraiser on GoFundMe, an online site for fundraisers. Monies raised would go toward food, clothing and other necessities, according to Tammy Hassler, mother of the Knoch High School student who started the fund drive.Her daughter, Hannah Hassler, is on the high school cheerleading squad with one of the Lawson children.And the community appears to be responding, with $33,900 raised as of Friday evening.Lawson's obituary is on Page B6.
