NORTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP, Pa. --
Ammunition shooting off in a fire that displaced a Washington County couple kept firefighters at bay Tuesday evening.
A North Strabane Township family's 160-year-old house is a wooden structure that had no fire breaks between floors. Firefighters remained at the scene on Linden Road late into the evening, dousing hot spots in a fire that proved difficult to fight on several fronts, WTAE Channel 4's Jon Greiner said.
The homeowners were home and were able to escape when the fire ignited.
"I was just out here 15 to 20 minutes. Then, he just went in to get a glass of water, and all these flames came out," said Doris Polansky.
Firefighters battled flames, heat, smoke -- and bullets.
"We were advised by the control center of ammunition in the house," North Strabane Fire Chief Mark Grimm said. "The ammunition, it was firing."
Then, there was the house itself. The 160-year-old wooden structure had no fire breaks between floors. By the time firefighters arrived, the fire was out of control, racing up a stairway to the second floor.
"It was gone. They said it burned by the stairwell (and) they couldn't get to the top. That was the problem, you know, to get up there and put it out, but it's so old, the wood," said Tim Polansky.
No one was hurt, and the Polanskys managed to save their pets, but the home is a total loss.
Neighbors complained about the fire department's response time, saying it took firefighters 20 minutes to arrive. Grimm said it took eight minutes from the time they got the call.
The Polanskys said they believe the fire started in a downstairs bathroom, but they were not sure how.
The fire marshal continued to investigate a cause Tuesday evening. The Red Cross said the organization is assisting three adults with food and clothing.
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