Montco Family Lost In Fire Included Local School Counselor

POTTSTOWN, PA — The victims of a deadly house fire in Pottstown have been identified.

Reading School District reported the "sad news" of the death of Bernadette Norton, a school counselor at Lauer's Park Elementary School in the District, in a fire on Monday that also claimed the lives of her husband and their son.

Officials said Bernadett Norton and her husband Joseph Norton, both 47, and their son all died on Monday. The Lehigh County coroner's office identified the woman who died as Bernadette Norton, according to a report by WFMZ. Early reports said the boy who died was 14, but another source said he is 12. Patch is seeking to confirm this.

She was flown to a Leigh County hospital early on Monday, where she died Monday evening, Pottstown Fire Department Chief Frank Hand said.

Hand said an investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing this week.

The fire was reported around 2 a.m. Monday in the family's home on E. Fifth Street in Pottstown.

It was neighbors who "noticed the fire in the twin home and flagged down a police officer who was nearby. Fire crews said they have not been able to find any working smoke detectors in the home so far, WFMZ reported.

The Reading School District called Bernadette Norton "a beloved counselor." A special "cool-down" tent that Norton used in her work has been moved to outside Lauer's Park Elementary so staff and students "have a place to say good-bye, pin pictures, place flowers or leave small mementos," the District said in a social media post.

Lauer’s Park Elementary, Principal Jasmin Sanchez-Lopez provided the cool-down tent "as a way to remember Mrs. Norton and celebrate all that she contributed" to the school community.

The District has grief counselors available at Lauer’s Park today and Wednesday for staff, students and their families to talk with either virtually or in person.

A firefighter who was injured was released from the hospital Monday, the fire chief said.