WK Garage Gutted by Sunday Afternoon Fire
Crews from six local departments battled this fire at a two-story garage in West Kittanning yesterday afternoon.
by David Croyle
A fire Sunday afternoon destroyed a garage in West Kittanning.
The fire broke out around 1:30 PM at the corner of Cleveland Street and Southern Avenue in a garage structure owned by Bill and Darcy Holly. The structure was located about 80 feet from the couple’s home.
According to family members, Bill was mowing the yard while Darcy was at work at Dizzy Lizzie’s Restaurant. He decided to start up a classic car that he kept in his garage. Shortly after starting it, flames began to erupt from the hood and grill. It was suspected that a fuel line broke causing fuel to be spewed over the motor.
West Kittanning Fire Chief Bernie Bowser, Sr. was first on the scene. He said the fire was shooting in all directions.
“The fire was so extensive it was blowing fire across the street,” he said. “My main concern at the time was ‘Is he out?’ and the exposures - the close by buildings and houses - because we had fire clean across the alley!”
Bowser estimated as much as $50,000 worth of tools as well as the vehicle was lost in the fire. He said the fire guttered both stories.
In addition to West Kittanning, responding fire companies included East Franklin Township, Applewold, Kittanning #1, #4, and #6, and Kittanning EMS. All units were back to their stations by 4PM.
One Applewold fireman - 24-year-old Brandon Kilgore - was overcome by heat exhaustion and was hospitalized last night, according to East Franklin Fire Marshal Mark Feeney.
“He went to the rehab unit that checks you out; his vitals were not within normal limits. So (Kittanning EMS) transported him, and gave him some IV’s to get his hydration back up. But his vitals were not steady within the normal limits, so they kept him overnight for observation.”
This is the second structure this month in West Kittanning. An earlier fire on July 5 wiped out a structure on Pine Hill Road.
It is also the second car fire this weekend in the area. On Saturday, a car driven by Robert Croyle of Adrian burst into flames on the Sand Plant Road near Tarrtown. The vehicle was totally consumed in the fire including melting down the aluminum motor. Croyle said he heard an explosion under the hood, which he now assumes could have been the battery exploding. Immediately thereafter, flames moved from the motor and began coming out the dash. Both Croyle and his dog got out of the car safely after the fire broke out while he was driving.
Firemen check for hot spots following the garage fire in West Kittanning yesterday afternoon that destroyed a classic car, gutted the building, and sent one fireman to the hospital.
Local News | David Croyle July 27, 2015
