ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, July 9, 1996                  TAG: 9607090064
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-3  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG
SOURCE: Associated Press 

FAMILY OF 5 DIES IN BLAZE CALLED LYNCHBURG'S DEADLIEST

THE FIRE APPARENTLY STARTED in the living room and spread, possibly burning for several hours before it was noticed, a deputy fire marshal said.

A family of five people died in a fire early Monday in the city's deadliest blaze in memory.

``I don't remember anything this bad ever happening in the city,'' said Fire Marshal Wayne Saunders.

The victims were identified as Osama and Felicia Abouzeid and their three children, Gina, 10, Nadia, 6, and Sara, 5.

The fire was reported about 4:45 a.m., said Deputy Fire Marshal John Jennings.

The house was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, said Jennings.

The blaze appeared to have started in the living room and spread, possibly burning for several hours before it was noticed, Jennings said.

The bodies were found near a window in the bedroom. The home was part of a duplex. The other side was vacant, authorities said. The Abouzeids had lived there about a year.

Steve Kinzer, a neighbor, ran to the burning house but was unable to get inside because of the heat and smoke.

``I couldn't make it through,'' he said. ``I couldn't even get that close.''

Jennings said the cause of the fire has not been determined. The bodies were sent to Roanoke for autopsies.

LENGTH: Short :   43 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  AP. Deputy Fire Marshal John Jennings and other 
          investigators try to determine the cause of a deadly fire early 
          Monday in Lynchburg.
KEYWORDS: FATALITY