Two families, totaling seven people, left homeless after fire in Jersey Shore
Hoses and fire apparatus line the 300 block of Cemetery Street in Jersey Shore at the height of Friday's structure fire.
A fire that extensively damaged a double home in the 300 block of Cemetery Street in Jersey Shore on Friday afternoon started on this side of the property before spreading to the adjoining house. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette
Hoses and fire apparatus line the 300 block of Cemetery Street in Jersey Shore at the height of Friday's structure fire.
A fire that extensively damaged a double home in the 300 block of Cemetery Street in Jersey Shore on Friday afternoon started on this side of the property before spreading to the adjoining house. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette
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JERSEY SHORE -- Seven people were left homeless after a fire extensively damaged a double home at 324-326 Cemetery St. about 2:15 p.m. Friday, according to Lycoming Regional police.
No one was injured, but a dog that lived with a family of five on the 326 side, where the fire started, perished in the blaze, police said.
The fire quickly spread to the other side, investigators said. The family of five was not home, but an elderly couple who lived on the 324 side was and safely escaped, police said.
"Smoke alarms were going off, and the elderly man started to investigate. He looked upstairs and downstairs, found nothing and then he saw smoke and called 911," one police officer said.
"He tried to get into the house next door in an attempt to get the dog. However when he opened their door, their kitchen was engulfed in flames," the officer said.
Arriving on the scene, police immediately assisted the couple who were on their back porch.
"There was smoke coming from the roof, around the chimney, almost like steam. However, within a matter of 30 seconds, flames were rolling off the back porch," said a second officer at the scene.
Firefighters attacked the blaze from the back and side of the property.
"The firefighters did a phenomenal job. This could have been a lot worse," one of the police officers said.
The fire was declared under control in about 40 minutes.
The local chapter of the American Red Cross was assisting the displaced families, whose names were expected to released Monday or sooner.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Besides the borough, firefighters from Antes Fort, Avis, Woodward Township, Old Lycoming Township, Montoursville and Lock Haven responded.