Fire crews from area companies responded to a house fire at 709 Ferne Drive in North Buffalo Township,
The call came in from a motorist who noticed the heavy smoke around 5PM. When firehighters arrived, North Buffalo Township Fire Marshal Mark Feeney said heavy smoke was emanating from the eves of the home.
“When we arrived on scene, you could see there was definitely an interior fire. Nobody was home at the house. It was all buttoned up. As firemen made entry, the fire got air and took off and within minutes was through the roof. We attacked from inside and also from the roof. We made another vent hole in the roof to get rid of the smoke and gasses.”
There were no injuries to any firefighters. Homeowner Zach Avi was out of town at the time the fire broke out. Two pets were in the home at the time. The cat ran out the door when firemen entered, but a nine-month-old dog was found deceased on the first floor overcome by smoke.
Because of the heavy smoke throughout the home, firefighters wore oxygen masks and quickly was depleting the air supply.
Feeney said the fire started in the kitchen.
“The fire at this time, it looks like it started overtop of the stove. They have a microwave over top of their stove. It look like something malfunctioned electrical. Right where it started in the kitchen, it’s an open stairwell going up to the second floor with a cathedral ceiling. From looking at the studs and floor joists that were missing, that fire burnt for (approximately) 3 hours before it filled the house with smoke enough to push outside the house.”
Feeney said he will be meeting with the homeowners Monday morning to discuss options and file an official report.
“All the fire damage and water damage is confined to the (one end of the house), but the whole house was filled with the super-heated gasses. Plastics at the other end of the hallway are melted because that super-heated air gets to a flash point. But structurally, there is only a quarter of house from kitchen to roof, and through the roof that need re-studded and fixed.”
Area fire departments responding to the fire included West Kittanning, East Franklin Township, Applewold, Kittanning Hose Co. #1, Kittanning Hose Co. #6, and Kittanning Hose Co. #4 Air Truck. Worthington was placed on stand-by. Kittanning #6 Ambulance workers also responded.
Feeney said that when the fire department connected to a fire hydrant, the pressure broke an 8-inch Kittanning Suburban Water main. Crews from the water company were on scene last night digging up and repairing the line. Feeney said that although the line broke, it did not affect water pressure to fight the fire.
A fireman attacks the fire breaking through the roof of the home at 709 Ferne Drive on late Sunday afternoon.
(photo submitted by Joshua Starr)
(photo submitted by Greg Toth)