Fire Kills 4 in Western New York

RIDGEWAY, N.Y. --

A late-night fire tore through a home in this western New York hamlet, killing two children and their mother and grandmother, authorities said Thursday.

The fire was reported at 11:47 p.m. Wednesday and firefighters found the two-story home engulfed in flames, Sheriff Scott Hess said.

Killed were April Hausler, 31; her 7-year-old daughter, Dawn; 10-year-old son, James; and her mother, Anna Monagan, 56.

Monagan's husband, James, was being treated for burns Thursday at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo. A 14-year-old cousin of the children, Donald Monagan, escaped unhurt.

The fire apparently started in the rear of the house and did not appear to be suspicious, Fire Chief Ken McAdoo said.

The father of the children, a trucker, was on the road when he was notified and was returning home Thursday from Ohio, Undersheriff Steve Smith said.

Ridgeway is 35 miles northeast of Buffalo.

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