Mother, son dead in Glendale house fire

PHOENIX — Tragedy struck a Glendale family Friday night when a deadly fire ravaged their home.

Glendale and Phoenix firefighters arrived at the scene of the blaze around 9 p.m. near 61st Avenue and Bethany Home Road.

“Two occupants were located inside the residence after the fire was put out, and they did not survive,” said Glendale Detective Ted Yoder.

Fire crews entered the single-story home and found a teenage boy in a wheelchair in the living room. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

They also found his mother at the back of the house, and she later died at a hospital.

Yoder said the victims were identified as 49-year-old Helen Russell and 16-year-old Elijah Martin.

There were no other injuries to civilians or firefighters.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Glendale police are also investigating.

The Associate Press contributed to this report.