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Fire leaves woman and 3 kids homeless

Authorities: Blaze possible arson

IOANNIS PASHAKIS/Sun-Gazette  City firefighters work to extinguish a blaze under the siding of a house at 818  Elmira St. on Tuesday afternoon. IOANNIS PASHAKIS/Sun Gazette  Firefighters work to stop a fire from spreading throughout an Elmira Street house on Tuesday afternoon. The blaze left four people homeless.

City police are investigating a possible arson that occurred at 818 Elmira St., where a fire broke out about 2:10 p.m. Tuesday underneath a porch, leaving a mother and three children homeless, according to city fire officials.

“I smelled smoke. It was coming through my windows from the house next door,” a 32-year-old woman said, declining to give her name. “I called 911 and told them my neighbor’s house was on fire.”

The identity of the mother who lived in the house was not released Tuesday, and city fire officials could not say if she and the children were in the house at the time of the fire. There were no reports of injuries.

“There were flames and smoke coming from under the house, under the porch deck,” the neighbor said. “The flames were getting bigger and bigger. My concern was for the mother and her children.”

While the bulk of the fire was knocked down within a matter of minutes, firefighters had to tear apart a section of a partition on the south side of the house.

Volunteer firefighters from South Williamsport and Old Lycoming Township also responded to the scene.

It appeared that the fire originated underneath an enclosed porch, Deputy Chief David Dymeck said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but city police are leading the investigation.

Two city detectives along with other officers were interviewing people at the scene and collecting evidence from the home. It is believed the displaced mother and her children were staying with relatives, Dymeck said.

The fire extended to the first and second floors but did not reach the attic, he added. Damage was in excess of $10,000.

The identity of the person who owned the home also was not available Tuesday.

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