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Mother and son die in West Seneca house fire

Tragedy struck in West Seneca Friday morning. A mother and her 12-year-old son were killed in a house fire.

Flames broke out before 8'o'clock fully engulfing a home on Covington, between Potter and Ridge Roads. Police have identified the victims as 51-year-old Nancy Crance and her son, Austin. He had Down Syndrome. Two other children of Crance's jumped from a second story window.

Six West Seneca fire companies were called in to help deal with the fire. WBFO News producer Ashley Hassett spoke with Donna Rigby -- she's a neighbor-- who responded to the two other children in the burning home.

"I heard some screaming and some glass breaking, and looked out the window and saw the fire coming out of all the windows and doors. Two of the kids were on the front lawn screaming. They had jumped out the windows. I just ran over and tried to comfort the kids and brought them back here. They kept saying their mother and brother were still in there," said Rigby.

Rigby said their mother was very passionate about her children, and her heart goes out to the surviving two children.

Both were taken to ECMC. 15-year-old Ian Crance was treated and released.  20-year-old Hayden Henessy is expected to be released later Friday. There is no word on what caused the fire.