An early-morning fire forced a family from their home early Thursday morning in Knoxville, Pa. and also damaged a neighboring church.
Investigators said the fire started on the top floor of a home on Knox Avenue. They said the three-alarm blaze spread quickly to a portion of the church, causing smoke and water damage.
Ricco Brown and his family made it safely out of the home but watched as their belongings were destroyed.
"We put firefighters inside immediately and was able to pull some of the ceiling down and stop the fire there so that the church sustained minimal damage," said Assistant Fire Chief Francis Deleonibus.
Damage to the Knoxville United Church was a setback for a Christmas event the church was ready to hold, said the Rev. Gilbert Fitzsimmons.
"We have a children's program and an Advent covered-dish luncheon on Sunday, and with some of our people, because of the smoke damage, they're just not going to be able to be in it," said Fitzsimmons. "They have breathing-related disorders, but we'll just do the best we can."
Unlike the church, Brown said his family lost everything.
"All our Christmas gifts is gone everything, everything is gone," said Brown.
What gifts firefighters were able to salvage are soggy, burnt and likely destroyed, Brown said.
"I don't know what's going to happen next," said Brown. "It's a tragedy. A tragedy."
Tthe 10 people who lived inside the home are being helped by the Red Cross. Fitzsimmons said he too will collect donations at Knoxville United Church.
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