WYOMISSING, PA—Damage from a two-alarm fire that displaced a Wyomissing Hills family of three and killed their dog Saturday evening is estimated at $1 million, a fire official said today.
Two local teenagers discovered the blaze at 101 Grandview Blvd. about 6 p.m. while passing by in a car, Chief Colin Hackman of Spring Township Fire & Rescue said.
The Spring Township company also provides services to the borough of Wyomissing, where the house is located.
Hackman said the cause of the fire has not been determined. The borough fire marshal, Troy Hatt, is set to return to the site Monday to continue the investigation.
The $1 million damage estimate include the house at 101 Grandview and its contents, as well as exterior damage to the neighboring home at 103 Grandview Blvd., Hackman said.
"Heat from the fire at 101 basically melted the siding off the side of the house on 103 Grandview Blvd.," Hackman said.
No one was home at the time the fire was discovered, the chief said.
The family, consisting of two adults and a teen, is staying with friends, he said. According to property records, the home at 101 Grandview is owned by Jeffrey L. and Shelly D. Hill, who list the property as their home address.
The occupants of the home at 103 Grandview were able to return to their home after the fire next door was put out. That home is owned by Steven T. and Melissa A. Haley, who also list the property as their address.
Hackman credited quick thinking by the two teens, both Wilson High School students, with helping to save the home from total destruction.
Hackman said the teens saw the fast-moving fire in its infancy and called 9-1-1.
The first units arrived within four minutes to find heavy fire coming from the west side of the home. Flames spread into the attic and burn through the entire length of the one-story building.
"It was a pretty fast-moving fire from what witnesses said," Hackman said. "The people who originally called it in said it was small initially when they called 9-1-1, and by the time we got here basically the whole side of the house was burning."
A column of black smoke was visible from downtown Reading as the house burned shortly after 6 p.m.
Hackman said crews were able to gain entry to the roof with the aid of a ladder truck, cutting ventilation holes. Firefighters conducted a search of the home but didn't find anyone inside.
The dog's body was found inside, he said, and carried outside.
A big battle
A second alarm was struck shortly after crews arrived for more manpower and due to the intensity of the flames, Hackman said, and firefighters had to deal with water supply issues. He said a secondary hose line had to be laid to get the volume of water needed to extinguish the fire.
About 50 firefighters from eight different companies were able to bring the bulk of the flames under control within 15 minutes, Hackman said, with the home sustaining substantial smoke and fire damage throughout.
The west side of the house had significant fire damage as firefighters worked to put out hot spots in walls that had become completely exposed from the burned-out roof.
No injuries were reported.
The residents weren't home but a car passing through the neighborhood while the fire was still small was occupied by incoming Wilson seniors Laury-Anne Pluviose and Maya Woodworth.
They were driving through because Woodworth's boyfriend, with whom she works, tricked her and told her that her starting time was 6 p.m. when it was really 7 p.m. at a nearby business.
Woodworth was driving with Pluviose through the block, thinking she needed to get to work by 6.
They passed the burning house and jumped out of the car to see if anyone was around. They immediately called 9-1-1 and started running door-to-door in the neighborhood to see if anyone was home because the fire was starting to spread through the grass, hedges and trees. They said they didn't find anyone.
"I was just in shock running around and trying to ring doorbells," Pluviose said.
"It was great that they were passing by," Hackman said. "They were able to see it quickly and get 9-1-1 activated to get us here."
Reporter Steven Henshaw contributed to this report.
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