March 05--Usually there's nothing exciting about taking out the trash, but for employees of Mott's in Aspers on Monday morning, it was the first step to saving a home.
Plant Manager Terry Redding said one worker noticed taking out trash smoke from the house and told another employee to call 911. A handful of plant workers helped contain a fire that broke out at the home of Kelly and Brian Lady next door to the plant.
Workers used 11 fire extinguishers from the plant to help suppress the blaze until fire companies responded around shortly before 10 a.m. The blaze was fully extinguished by 11 a.m.
Adams County Fire Marshal Glenn Herring said sparks from an indoor pellet stove caused $10,000 in damages to the home, located at 29 Aspers North Road, displacing the Ladys and their two dogs.
Herring said ashes from the stove piping landed in a pile of leaves on the front porch, igniting the flames that caused damage mostly to the exterior of the house. Kelly Lady, who was home alone with the dogs when the fire started, said she never saw any ashes blowing through the pipes.
"It was definitely scary," Lady said. "We've never been through something like this before. I'm just glad it didn't happen during the snowstorm we are supposed to get."
Kelly Lady said she has calmed down since the incident, and looks forward to getting back into the home with her husband as soon as possible. Both the Ladys are thankful to Mott's (and fire
companies) for being first on the seen. Redden feels that if the employees didn't see the smoke, the house may never have been saved.
"I will definitely be writing a thank you letter to Mott's," Lady said.
Redden said it's a good feeling knowing the company was able to help, but he's not surprised his employees took action.
"We're good corporate citizens, and we're good neighbors with an interest in our community," Redden said. "If we see an emergency, everyone feels enabled to help."
Bendersville, York Springs, Heidlersburg, Biglerville, Mount Holly Springs and Arendtsville fire companies all responded to the call.
Copyright 2013 - The Evening Sun, Hanover, Pa.
