Flames damage duplex
A family in the city got an unfortunate wake up to the new year Friday morning when they found a fire in their duplex.
Eight people, including two children, escaped without injury Friday morning when a fire damaged the duplex at 119 Walker Ave.
The building is unlivable but potentially reparable, said Butler City Fire Department Lt. Donald Crawford.
The occupants were asleep when about 7 a.m. one of them woke up and smelled smoke. The fire appears to have started in the kitchen area of the second floor, Crawford said, noting that the cause still is under investigation.
Five residents and three holiday guests were in the duplex at the time.
The second floor living area, where one family lived, and the third-floor attic were damaged by the fire.
The lower floor living area, where another family lived, has water damage, said Crawford.
He estimated the loss at $10,000 to the contents and $30,000 to the structure.
One neighbor said he saw flames in an upstairs window, but added city firefighters had the fire under control quickly.
A burnt mattress was in the backyard of the property Saturday morning.
The American Red Cross was called to assist the tenants, whose names were not available.
Neighbors said a couple with a young child lived in one of the apartments, but said they did not know the family's name.
Electricity to the building has been disconnected, and occupants are not living in either apartment.
The property is owned by Alpine Apartments of Butler, according to county records.
The state police fire marshal has been contacted to help determine the cause of the fire, but it is not considered suspicious.
In addition to city firefighters, responders included the Butler Ambulance Service, city police, the VA Hospital fire department and Butler Township Fire District 3.
