Home, cars, cycle lost in Beaver fire
FRANKLIN TWP, Beaver County — Flames that spread from burning trash caused destruction Monday afternoon.
Officials said an improperly extinguished burn barrel was the cause of a blaze that burned a Phillis Drive home, two cars, a motorcycle and surrounding brush.
Nine cats are also presumed dead, said Alan Martino, assistant chief of the Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department.
“He (homeowner's son) thought he had put out the flame, but obviously it wasn't,” Martino said.
The fire started around 3:30 p.m. when the homeowner's son tried putting out the flame in the burn barrel before leaving for work, Martino said. The barrel was about 25 feet away from the home.
From there, the fire caught surrounding brush and made its way toward the home.
One of the cars destroyed in the blaze was in the home's garage. The other was outside, next to the home.
It took firefighters until about 5:30 p.m. to put out the fire.
“There were only three guys here at first, so that was a challenge,” Martino said. “We also had a slight water issue.”
One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion. Other than that, no injuries were reported.
One of the homeowners was at home at the time of the fire. She escaped unharmed. While the cats are presumed to have died in the fire, a dog is said to have escaped.
Martino said the home is a total loss.
“It's a real shame,” said a neighbor who did not wish to be named. “That was one of the first homes built on this road.”
Phillis Road and part of Fombell Road were closed for the duration of the fire. No other homes on Phillis Road were affected by the blaze.
Firefighters from Harmony, North Sewickley and Ellwood City also were on the scene. Franklin Township police also assisted.
“People need to be careful when they're burning stuff,” Martino said.
April is considered to be the worst month for brush fires, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources due to dry, warm conditions.
