March 09--A fire Saturday evening heavily damaged a double home on Virginia Avenue in Shenandoah Heights.
The home at 232-234 Virginia Ave. was occupied on one side by Joe and Jessica Vevasis and their children, a 14-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy. The family also owned and used the other side of the house.
"It was already rolling out the front windows of 232 when I got here," Shenandoah police Officer Joe Mozdy said. Shenandoah police were dispatched because West Mahanoy Township police were not on duty Saturday night.
Initial reports that someone was trapped inside proved to be untrue, Mozdy said.
A dog was rescued from the blaze.
Firefighters were dispatched at 8:29 p.m. They seemed to have the blaze under control shortly before 9:30, but flames then broke through the roof.
Rick Examitis, a spokesman for West Mahanoy Township Fire Chief Doug Brill, said one firefighter was taken to a Pottsville hospital by Lost Creek ambulance for evaluation of a minor injury.
The fire was out by 9:50 p.m., but firefighters were expected to remain at the scene for some time.
Examitis said the cause is undetermined and a state police fire marshal will assist in the investigation.
Fire companies at the scene included West Mahanoy Township, Englewood, Altamont, Polish-American of Shenandoah, and West End of Mahanoy City's rapid intervention team. Mahanoy Township, Shenandoah and state police also were there, along with Lost Creek and Shenandoah ambulances.
Copyright 2014 - Standard-Speaker, Hazleton, Pa.
