Heat from burning home in Zelienople sets woods on fire
ZELIENOPLE — Firefighters working to put out a structure fire in a two-story home Thursday, April 13, night also found themselves fighting flames in the wooded backyard.
According to Deputy Fire Chief Doug Pickett, Harmony Fire District, heat from the burning home at 159 Oakdale Drive in the Timberbrook development caught the woods on fire.
The emergency call came at 7:07 p.m. Pickett was on the scene six minutes later.
“I had a column of smoke from across the entire backside,” Pickett said.
Flames were coming through the roof, Pickett said, and that Harmony’s engine arrived moments after him.
The family was able to make it out of the brick-and-siding home safely, he said, and there were no injuries from the blaze.
“And two cats were rescued,” he said. “We had to give them oxygen.”
The source of the fire was unknown at the time, according to Pickett.
“It appears to be something in the rear of the home,” he explained.
The extent of damage to the home was also unknown Thursday night.
Later in the evening, as crews split time between scouring the woods and the walls of the home for any hot spots, Pickett said they were able to salvage some important items for the family, including military memorabilia.
Firefighters worked for about two hours to put out the brush fire.
“There’s a lot of cleanup,” Pickett said.
At the scene were the Harmony Fire District, Adams Area Fire District, Cranberry Volunteer Fire Company, Evans City Volunteer Fire Department and Callery Volunteer Fire Company. The Big Knob Fire and Rescue from Beaver County and Franklin Township Fire Department from Lawrence County also responded.
