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Hepburn Township couple homeless after early morning third alarm blaze

By Philip A. Holmes 2 min read

A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a house on Beach Drive in Hepburn Township early Tuesday morning and left a husband and wife homeless, according to fire officials.

While the couple safely made it out of their home at 626 Beach Drive, about a half a mile off of Eckard Road, many of their cats are believed to have perished in the blaze, which broke out about 3:15 a.m.

The couple's names were not released. The wife happened to be awake at the time of the fire, and after she awoke her husband, the two fled the two-story home.

Firemen briefly made an interior attack, but had to pull out within minutes due to "very severe hoarding conditions," one of the first responder said.

"You couldn't get into several of the rooms because they were just packed full (with belongings)," another firefighter said.

This is a serious problem area firefighters are facing more and more these days.

About 30 minutes into the fire, a portion of the attic collapsed into the second floor.

Before it was brought under about 5 a.m., the blaze went to three alarms, bringing additional manpower and fire apparatus to the scene.

It is believed the home was a total loss. The homeowners, who were being assisted by the American Red Cross, had fire insurance, according to one investigator.

Firefighters remained on the scene much of the morning extinguishing hot spots.

One investigator said that due to the destruction of the property, it was very likely that the cause of the fire will remain undetermined.

Besides Hepburn Township, other companies dispatched to the fire included Old Lycoming, Trout Run, Eldred Township, Montoursville, Ralston, Loyalsock Township, South Williamsport, Nisbet, Muncy Area, Jersey Shore, Hughesville, Woodward Township, DuBoistown and Pennsdale.

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