Fire leaves family of 6 homeless
JEFFERSON TWP — A faulty wood burner in the basement may have sparked a Tuesday night blaze that destroyed a family's two-story house in the 400 block of Saxonburg Road, authorities said.
A couple and their four children were home but managed to get out safely. Two pet dogs — a pair of older golden retrievers — perished in the fire, along with four cats.
The state police fire marshal has been called to investigate but the blaze is believed to be accidental.
“I'm leaning toward a problem with the flue on the wood burner,” Chief Chris Ballina of the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company said of the possible cause.
Ballina, however, did not rule out that a power surge, caused when a transformer blew out less than a mile down the road in neighboring Summit Township, may have sparked the blaze.
Patrick Rodgers discovered the fire after he went into the main floor bathroom shortly after 11:30 p.m.
“He smelled what he thought was something electrical burning,” Ballina said. “Then he saw smoke coming through the floor.”
Rodgers alerted his wife and children, ages 10, 13, 15 and 17, and they all got out, wasting no time.
“It was an older house and he was pretty smart to get everyone out quick,” Ballina said.
Before long, flames had taken over the house. By the time the first fire crew arrived, an interior attack was ruled out.“There was no way to put anyone in there,” Ballina said. “There was too much fire already and some of the structure was collapsing.”Neighbor Holly Mead this morning said the children stayed in her house while firefighters battled the blaze. She said the power went out for about a half-hour Tuesday night.She said that Patrick Rodgers told her that once the power was back on he noticed smoke coming from the register in the bathroomShe said the heat from the fire caused the paint on the Rodgers' cars to melt.She said the fire spread quickly through the house.“It was just gone.”About 35 firefighters from five departments surrounded the house, at the corner of Mushrush Road, and hit it with water from all sides.It took an hour or so before the fire was under control.“There was a section in the middle of the house that we couldn't get to because of the roof collapse,” Ballina said.Damage to the house and contents is estimated at $90,000, authorities said. The home is insured.Saxonburg firefighters were last to leave and did not get back to the station until 5:40 a.m. today. But less than two hours later, they were back at the house for a little more than an hour after the fire rekindled. And about 9:20 a.m. today firefighters once again were called to the scene when part of the structure rekindled.Assisting the Saxonburg VFC were firefighters from Herman, Penn Township, Winfield and South Butler.The Butler County chapter of the American Red Cross also was called to help the Rodgers family with emergency needs.Authorities said the family is staying with relatives nearby.Eagle staff writer John Bojarski contributed to this report.
