Firefighters battled a Gilpin Township fire for more than an hour-and-a-half yesterday evening on Evergreen Road, less than a mile from the township fire station. The trailer was uninhabited and is under investigation by the state police fire marshal.
by Jonathan Weaver
Two fire companies fought for more than an hour-and-a-half to extinguish a trailer fire in Gilpin Township yesterday.
The fire at 741 Evergreen Road was reported by three consecutive callers to Armstrong 9-1-1 dispatchers about 5:30PM, alerting township police, Lower Kiski EMS and Leechburg and Gilpin Township firefighters.
Small portions of the roof rekindled after the main blaze was extinguished, causing firefighters to spray more water from the side closest to Wildlife Lane and from the back. Smoke dissipated shortly after 7PM.
Gilpin Township Police Chief Dan Clark was first on-scene and recalled the initial sight.
“The whole house had flames shooting out of it – I don’t know where it started (but) when I got here, there was fire coming out all the windows that I could see from the roadway.”
All the front windows were blown out when the fire was extinguished, and the front porch roof had collapsed. Charred portions of the roof and inside walls spread across the front yard as firefighters blocked off the structure with safety tape.
Callers reported the residence was an unoccupied structure. According to Chief Clark, tenants vacated the trailer earlier this week.
“I know the people that lived here for about 1 ½ - two years, and they were quiet,” Chief Clark said. “They just moved out a couple days ago and left some stuff behind.”
The family was not expected to return to retrieve the remaining items, though.
Russell Fouse of Gilpin Township is the landlord of the trailer, and did not want to comment on the matter.
Chief Clark praised the fire crews for their duty in containing the fire to one structure. More than two dozen firefighters responded in-total between both fire departments.
“Of course it was involved, but the neighbors were all aware and staying back – I didn’t see where there was any danger,” Chief Clark said.
Both Wildlife Lane and Evergreen Road were blocked off by police during the working fire.
Township Fire Chief Phillip McConville was unavailable for comment after the incident.
Lower Kiski EMS responders stayed on scene to help firefighters keep hydrated and in case of need, but did not treat any injuries.
West Penn Power crews turned power off to the home about 6:10PM
Traffic was detoured at the intersection of Schenley and Evergreen Roads.
The fire occurred less than a mile from the Gilpin Township firehouse and township municipal building, and about two miles from the ambulance station on Route 66.
Leechburg crews were first to leave the scene about 7:30PM, followed by ambulance responders.
A fire marshal from the Butler state police barracks is to visit the scene this afternoon to investigate.