FIRE VIDEO: ‘The House is a Total Loss’

The Ellwood City Fire Department responded “almost immediately” to a fire on the 100 block of Orchard Avenue Thursday evening.

“We actually had a truck up the road for a separate call when the fire broke out. Some neighbors ran up to the truck and said 130 was on fire – so we responded almost immediately,” Ellwood City Fire Chief, Rick Meyers stated.

Despite the fast action, due to the layout of the property it was difficult for the responding departments to get to the center of the fire – which they believe started in the kitchen/dining room area.

The fire destroyed the house at 130 Orchard Avenue and caused exterior fire damage and interior smoke and water damage to 136, a neighboring home.

“The house (130) is a total loss, and the family lost most of their possessions as well,” Meyers said.

No one at either residence was seriously injured. One adult male was at home asleep at 130 Orchard Ave., on the second floor when the fire broke out. He said he woke up feeling heat on his face and struggling to breath, he then fled to the roof of the back porch and jumped to safety.

In addition to Ellwood City, departments from Chewton, Franklin Township (Frisco), Harmony, North Sewickley Township, Shenango, Wampum, Wayne Township, and Wurtemburg-Perry Township responded to the blaze.

The Red Cross is helping the fire victims. Also, one firefighter of the Wurtemburg-Perry department was treated for heat-related injuries and is recovering.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

A GoFundMe page was set up to help the victims of the fire, view it here.

VIDEO (by KDKA News):

TWEET:

We provided 2 adults and 2 children with lodging after a house fire on Orchard Avenue in Ellwood City (Beaver).

— Red Cross Western PA (@RedCrossWPA) July 21, 2017