Bastress Township home destroyed by fire
Firefighters work at the scene of a house fire in Bastress Township on Monday. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette
Firefighters work at the scene of a house fire in Bastress Township on Monday. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette
Firefighters work at the scene of a house fire in Bastress Township on Monday. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette
Firefighters work at the scene of a house fire in Bastress Township on Monday. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette
Firefighters work at the scene of a house fire in Bastress Township on Monday. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette
Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Stabley, center, directing operations.PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette
Firefighters work at the scene of a house fire in Bastress Township on Monday. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette
Firefighters work at the scene of a house fire in Bastress Township on Monday. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette
Firefighters work at the scene of a house fire in Bastress Township on Monday. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette
Firefighters work at the scene of a house fire in Bastress Township on Monday. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette
Firefighters work at the scene of a house fire in Bastress Township on Monday. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette
Firefighters work at the scene of a house fire in Bastress Township on Monday. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette
Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Stabley, center, directing operations.PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette
Firefighters work at the scene of a house fire in Bastress Township on Monday. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette
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NIPPENOSE VALLEY – A multiple-alarm fire that burned out of control for about an hour late Monday morning destroyed a home on Morgan Valley Road, about a half a mile off of Route 654, in Bastress Township.
Volunteer firemen were told no one was home when they arrived on the scene about 11:20 a.m.
Smoke from the fire could be seen as far as Rauchtown, several miles away, officials said.
Jeff Stabley, an assistant fire chief for Nippenose Valley Fire Company who was in charge at the scene, said much of the structure was engulfed in flames and part of the roof was already burned off when firefighters arrived.
The couple who owns the property were reportedly returning here from Maine on Monday.
There were no reports of injuries.
Firefighters were drafting water from a nearby pond, Stabley said.
Besides battling intense flames, firefighters had to cope with very cold conditions with temperatures in the low 20s.
The fire was declared under control about 12:20 p.m. The cause of the fire was undetermined.