Special Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Response Team, Pennsylvania State Police, and Chester County Fire Marshal's office have located the remains of two individuals inside the Barclay Friends Senior Center at 700 North Franklin Street in West Chester.
Investigators initially located the remains of the first victim late Tuesday morning and then the second victim later in the afternoon.
The remains were transported from the scene by the Chester County Coroner and the families of the four missing residents were notified.
Investigators are still in the process of conducting an origin and cause investigation of the fire and it is expected to continue throughout the Thanksgiving holiday.
A large crane and other excavating equipment were brought to the scene and began removing large sections of fire debris early Tuesday morning.
Efforts to locate the two remaining missing residents will continue Wednesday.
"The thoughts and prayers of the men and women of ATF are with the families of the victims during this difficult time. Their losses only strengthen our resolve to provide answers to them as a result of our investigation of this tragedy," said Special Agent in Charge Donald Robinson.
ATF's NRT, along with Special Agents from the ATF Philadelphia Field Division, were activated to respond to the 5-alarm fire at the Barclay Friends Senior Assisted Living Center.
The fire occurred at approximately 10:45 p.m., November 16.
First responders from West Chester and surrounding fire departments in the area arrived on scene shortly after the first call was made to 911, assisting with the evacuation of approximately 160 residents and staff members.
The NRT arrived on scene Saturday morning to start processing the fire scene and determine the origin and cause once the building was secured and hot spots extinguished.
The fire investigation is being worked in coordination with the Chester County District Attorney's Office, Chester County Fire Marshal's Office, Pennsylvania State Police, West Chester Police Department, Chester County Sheriff's Office and Chester County Department of Emergency Services.
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WEST CHESTER, Pennsylvania --
At least 20 people have been injured in a massive, multi-alarm fire at a senior living community in Pennsylvania.
The fire was reported just before 11 p.m. Thursday at Barclay Friends on North Franklin Street in West Chester.
The fire quickly spread to multiple buildings and flames could be seen shooting from the roofs and windows of the structures.
Residents were forced to evacuate outside into the cold, with temperatures overnight hovering in the low 40s.
Dozens of residents were on the lawn or along the street, wrapped in blankets. Many of them had been pushed in wheelchairs or rolled on beds to safety.
Chester County emergency officials said at least 20 people were taken to area hospitals for treatment.
WPVI-TV in Philadelphia is told nine people were taken to Chester County Hospital and seven were taken to Paoli Memorial Hospital. There was no immediate word on the conditions of the injured.
A spokeswoman for Main Line Health, a not-for-profit health system, said one of its hospitals also was prepared to provide shelter to some additional residents of the senior living community. According to its website, Barclay Friends offers various levels of care including memory care, skilled nursing and post-acute rehab.
Early Friday morning, the local chapter of the American Red Cross said on Twitter that it had multiple teams on the scene and that it was working with county officials and facility staff to assist displaced residents.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
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Flames ripped through a senior living community in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Thursday night, forcing 140 residents into the cold and local shelters. About 20 residents were sent to local hospitals.
The five-alarm fire at the Barclay Friends community on the 700 block of North Franklin Street in West Chester led staff to evacuate vulnerable residents on foot, in wheelchairs and even in beds, wrapped in blankets.
A look at the inferno that engulfed Barclay Friends overnight.
Photo credit: Chester County Working Fires
Residents were triaged on a neighborhood street, then transported to a number of different shelters on ambulances and school buses.
At an early-morning news conference, Chester County officials said they weren't ready yet to confirm the number injured or how serious the injuries were.
Fire Sweeps Through Pa Senior Living Home
Seniors were evacuated into 40-degree weather and some were sent to local hospitals when a 5-alarm fire erupted at a senior living home in West Chester, Pa. Thursday. NBC10 News' Katy Zachry and Dray Clark report.(Published Friday, Nov. 17, 2017)
But people at the scene described a frightening rescue from the inferno, which started before 11 p.m. Thursday.
"I'm just envisioning the elderly people burning in their beds because it was so massive... before any rescue came," neighbor Scott Baker said.
A look at the smoldering senior-living community Friday morning.
Photo credit: SkyForce10
Firefighters were still dousing hot spots as smoke continued to rise after daybreak Friday, even though the inferno was declared under control at 1:22 a.m.
An employee who was inside the building said staff rushed into residents' rooms when they realized the scope of the fire and began rushing them to safety.
Seniors took shelter in places including the Hollinger Field House at West Chester University.
Another worker, with tears in her eyes, said she was worried about the residents that she had come to know over three years working at Barclay Friends.
"It's sad," said Nellie Mingey. "This is their home. A lot of them don't have anywhere to go."
Unhurt residents were being reunited with friends and family at the nearby shelters, including at West Chester University. The Red Cross had moved everyone from the West Chester shelter to specialized health care facilities and closed the shelter by late morning.
The American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania responded to help those displaced. The Red Cross said its Disaster Mental Health and Spiritual Care team met with each resident and their families.
"They're cold, they're scared, they're anxious, they wanted to get out of here, so we're glad to have gotten them out," registered nurse Noreen Cibley said.
Neighbors rushed to the scene as well to help comfort evacuees. One woman who lives within a mile of the scene said she called a first responder friend as soon as she saw the flames, then rushed over with donations from Wawa of coffee and water for the overwhelmed evacuees.
"Everyone seems OK, but they are tired," the neighbor said. "They look really, really exhausted. They've had a long night."
Barclay Friends, a Kendal Affiliate, is a senior living community that provides professional nursing staff 24 hours a day, meals and other services, according to its website.
20+ Injured in Assisted Living Facility
Crews battled heavy flames at an assisted living facility late Thursday night into early Friday morning. NBC10's Aaron Baskerville was on scene.(Published Friday, Nov. 17, 2017)
Firefighters warned people in the area to expect traffic troubles in the area of Franklin Street and Goshen Road as roads in the area remained closed Friday as ATF agents led the investigation into the blaze.
Getting inside the building was a challenge as part of the building collapsed and smoke continued to rise from the rubble throughout the morning.