Four children killed in suspicious fire at house

LANCASTER, Pa. -- A suspicious row house fire killed four children Friday, and as the building burned, police arrived to find the mother and two men outside arguing.

State police and fire marshals were investigating the predawn blaze, which gutted the two-story brick home, but no charges were immediately filed.

The victims ranged in age from 4 to 10.

Their mother, Cheryl Birster, 34, was inside the home with Kevin Haythe, whom police described only as a visitor, when the fire broke out.

The two told police they jumped from a second-story window to escape heavy smoke and ran to the front of the house but couldn't get back inside.

It was not immediately clear why they got into a fight with another man, Francisco David, 34. Police identified him as a former boyfriend of Birster's.

In July 2002, David pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from an incident at the same house. Birster claimed he hit her on the head and smashed her home-theater system with a hammer, according to court records.

David was sentenced to probation, but later jailed. Officials said he was released two weeks ago.

Patricia Heymann, a neighbor who lived across the street, said she woke up and saw the flames. When she walked outside, she said, she saw a man and woman who lived in the house arguing "uncontrollably."

Police had to use pepper spray to subdue the three, and charges stemming from the fight were anticipated, Sgt. William Gleason said. Police dubbed the blaze suspicious.

According to court records, Birster was divorced within the last three years.

No phone listing could be found for the victims' father, Andrew Birster.