Embers from a burn pile sparked a fire that destroyed a home Saturday in Providence Township.
The
residents of the home, at 417 Lancaster Pike (Route 272), were doing
yardwork when their house caught fire just before 2 p.m., Willow Street
Fire Chief Mike Reese said.
"It looks like the burn pile caught some wind which blew embers against the house," he added.
Reese said fire traveled quickly through the two-story wooden home. Surrounding woods also had begun to catch fire, he said.
"When we got there it was fully in flames, there wasn't much we could do. There was no saving the home."
For safety, Reese said, crews battled the blaze solely from the exterior.
"There
was a great deal of structural instability, a lot of collapse," he
added. "A defensive operation was really our only option."
The
home is in a wooded area accessible by two long driveways. Reese said
crews ran a water supply line up one of the drives from Lancaster Pike.
There
are no hydrants in the area so tankers shuttled water to the site from a
pond about a mile away at the Smithville mobile home park, Reese added.
The park is at Lancaster Pike and Pennsy Road.
He said the blaze
was brought under control within an hour. Crews were still at the site
late Saturday continung with overhaul of the property.
A state police fire marshal ruled the blaze accidental in nature and estimated damage at $350.000.
According to county records, the home is owned by Daniel and Fannie Bender.
The residents, whom Reese said were not injured, were able to rescue their dog from the burning home.
They are being assisted by family members and American Red Cross of the Susquehanna Valley, according to Reese.
A few firefighters suffered minor injuries such as cuts and bruises and were treated at the scene, Reese said.
jtodd@lnpnews.com
