“She was helped out by neighbors. She brought one of her dogs out with her, but at least two others are believed to have perished,” township Fire Chief Shawn Bastian said as thick smoke continued to rise several hundred feet into the air.

The fire was reported about 6:20 p.m. and was brought under control just after 7 p.m.

“When firefighters began arriving, there was fire throughout the entire two-story home,” Bastian said. The woman’s name was not released. “We still need to talk with her,” the chief said. The local chapter of the American Red Cross was assisting her.

“About 20 minutes into the fire, the front porch started to collapse, then a side shed, and that soon brought the rest of the house with it,” Bastian said.

PHILIP A. HOLMES/Sun-Gazette Once again, volunteer firefighters were dispatched to yet another house fire; this one on Starr Road in Loyalsock Township on Thursday night.

“This is a total loss here,” he added.

In the last four weeks, more than half a dozen homes in the region have gone up in flames.

“We are seeing just too much of this,” said one volunteer firefighter, who has fought several of the blazes.

A state police fire marshal will be assisting in determining the cause of this fire, but it is more than likely that it could go undetermined due to the destruction.

Besides the township, volunteer firefighters from Montoursville, Eldred, Plunketts, Hepburn, Old Lycoming and Woodward townships as well as DuBoistown, Nisbet and the Williamsport Regional Airport all responded.

PHILIP A. HOLMES/Sun-Gazette Smoke from the blaze on Starr Road could be seen from several miles away. The sole female occupant of the home safely escaped with one of her dogs, but two are dogs are believed to have perished.

PHILIP A. HOLMES/Sun-Gazette Volunteer fire companies from several communities came together to battle the two-alarm fire on Starr Road on Thursday night.

PHILIPA. HOLMES/Sun-Gazette Starr Road, off of Warrensville Road, was closed to traffic as firefighters battled a two-alarm house fire on Thursday night.