Five left homeless following early-morning fire in Watsontown
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WATSONTOWN -- Awakened by smoke, a family of five safely escaped their two-story brick home just in the nick of time early Wednesday morning when a fire broke out at 484 8th Street Drive, according to Fire Chief Doug Funk of the Warrior Run Area Fire
Department.
William Buck, his wife and their three children were able to grab some coats, but that was about it when the fire was discovered at 1 a.m., Funk said.
Family members discovered fire on the first floor that was coming up from the basement, he added.
"When firefighters arrived on the scene, flames had already reached the second floor and attic," Funk said.
Firefighters quickly donned self-contained breathing apparatuses and advanced "multiple attack lines (hoses)" into the house, bringing the fire under control in about 30 minutes, he added.
There were no reports of injuries, and the displaced family was staying with relatives, Funk said. The home, believed to be close to 100 years old, sustained extensive damage.
"It was built with what's called balloon-frame construction," meaning that there are a lot of open spaces that allow the fire to spread very quickly, Funk explained.
A state police fire marshal from the Milton barracks will be leading the investigation into the cause of the blaze. "We'll start in the basement, and go from there," Funk said.
Besides Warrior Run Area, firefighters from Milton, White Deer Township, Mifflinburg, Montgomery and Washington Township responded to the fire.
Montoursville fire department stood by in Watsontown to handle any other emergency calls.