Fire Wall Stops Fire From Spreading from Pennsylvania House
Source The News-Item, Shamokin, Pa.
June 03--ATLAS -- A light bulb inside a rear bedroom closet of a West Girard Street home ignited papers and photographs on Sunday, causing a fire that rendered the home a total loss.
The combustible materials were stacked too close to the light bulb inside 501 W. Girard St., home to Ernie Delbo Jr. and Jennifer McGinley.
The fire, which was reported about 5:10 p.m., was ruled accidental and is not considered suspicious. The home is insured.
It marks the sixth structure fire in the village since April 26.
Firefighters were credited with working fast to prevent the flames from spreading to an attached home at 503 W. Girard St., owned by Rex and Justine Oburn.
Justine was unloading groceries from her vehicle when she says McGinley yelled to her, "Call 911, your house is on fire." She ran to the corner across the street at West Girard and Hemlock, saw smoke rising from the neighboring home and dialed 911.
Her husband was wading in a swimming pool in a side yard at their home and was unaware of the blaze.
"I'm screaming, 'Get out of the pool, the house is on fire,' " Oburn said.
She believed a fire wall separating the attached structures helped prevent flames from spreading to her home. It sustained no fire damage and is believed to have taken on very little smoke.
Members of Atlas Fire Company and Anthracite Fire Company, Mount Carmel, were the first to respond to the scene. They encountered heavy black smoke and flames shooting through the first floor window towards the second floor and spreading to the eaves of the roof at the home's rear, which faces Route 61 and is located between FNB Bank and Pine Burr Inn.
Charles Gasperetti, Atlas fire chief, said the first responders ran a hose line through the front door and began an aggressive interior attack. As more help arrived, several other hose lines were ran through other entrances to bolster their efforts.
Windows were busted and a hole was cut in the roof to ventilate the structure.
The fire was under control in 20 minutes and completely extinguished in less than one hour.
No serious injuries were reported. A handful of firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion.
PPL Electric Utilities turned off power to 501 W. Girard St.
Brian Hollenbush, Mount Carmel Township's fire marshal and police chief, investigated the cause and origin of the fire.
Assisting at the scene were Natalie and Strong fire companies, Mount Carmel Rescue Squad, Liberty Hose Company of Shamokin, East End Fire Company of Kulpmont and AREA Services ambulance.
The local chapter of the American Red Cross was on scene to assist the fire victims.
Copyright 2013 - The News-Item, Shamokin, Pa.
