Home Avenue house badly damaged by fire

December 01, 2025 Last Updated: December 01, 2025 07:39 PM Local News

Smoke billows during a house fire on the 200-block of Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

BUTLER TWP — A house in the Homeacre neighborhood was deemed uninhabitable by firefighters after a large fire damaged much of the structure Monday, Dec. 1.

Six fire departments responded to the blaze at 216 Home Ave. after dispatchers sounded the alarm for a structure fire around 1:30 p.m. Smoke could be seen from West Jefferson Street, nearly 2 miles away.

“I would say it’s not inhabitable,” said Scott Frederick, director of emergency services with the Butler Township Volunteer Fire District. “The contents are a total loss. It’s still under investigation.”

Firefighters stand on top of the roof as they use a hose to extinguish any existing hot spots during a house fire on the 200 block of Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Randy Anthony, the homeowner, said it had been a completely normal day before the fire broke out. He was out walking his dogs through the neighborhood and did not notice anything off or unusual when he left. When he returned, he saw through his back door the fire was already starting to spread.

“I put the leash on them near the back door next to the wood burner and I noticed nothing wrong whatsoever,” Anthony said. “I took my dogs out, we walked all the way up and over down Bartley (Avenue) and back up to the house. When I walked back up to the back door, I come in the sliding glass door where you can see the place, I see a shelf across the wood burner just ablaze.

“I ran in to try and do something, and the smoke was so overwhelming, I couldn’t do anything. Now I’m sitting here looking at a bad spot.”

Randy Anthony’s dog gives him a kiss as they watch firefighters work on extinguishing all the hot spots in his house during a fire on the 200 block of Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Firefighters from the Butler city, Butler Township, Center Township, Penn Township, Evans City and Butler VA fire departments tried to put out the flames while smoke engulfed the home. The back of the home was particularly badly damaged.

Anthony said he and his two dogs got out fine, and he is pretty sure his two cats, who spend a lot of time outside, are OK.

Anthony said he did not know how the fire started.

While Anthony said he is trying to determine what to do next, he took time to express his thanks and appreciation to the responding fire departments for their speedy response and minimizing the damage.

“We’ve got the VA fire department here, definitely want to thank them. We’ve got Evans City here, that was fast. That was professional. I was impressed, they work wonders. I’m really grateful for them,” Anthony said.

Smoke billows from inside a house during a fire on the 200 block of Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Fire departments battle a house fire on Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1. Zach Zimmerman/Butler Eagle

Firefighters talk as smoke bellows from the home during a house fire on the 200 block of Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

A firefighter pulls in a hose to use inside the burning house during a house fire on the 200 block of Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

A firefighter helps another firefighter with his equipment as local stations work on extinguishing all the flames during a house fire on the 200 block of Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Firefighters stand on top of the roof as they use a fire hose to extinguish any existing hot spots during a house fire on the 200 block of Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

A firefighter walks across a ladder during a house fire on the 200-block of Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

A firefighter walks through the house as local stations work to put out any pop up flames during a house fire on the 200-block of Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Firefighters stand on top of the roof as they use a fire house to extinguish any existing hot spots during a house fire on the 200-block of Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

A firefighter walks through the house as local stations work to put out any pop-up flames during a house fire on the 200 block of Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

A firefighter talks off his mask and helmet after leaving the smoke-filled during a house fire on the 200 block of Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Smoke billows from inside a house during a fire on the 200 block of Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Firefighters tear down parts of an outside wall and insulation to get to the inside of the house during a house fire on the 200 block of Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Firefighters stand on top of the roof as they use a fire hose to extinguish any existing hot spots during a house fire on the 200 -block of Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Firefighters stand on the porch as the work to extinguish all the flames during a house fire on the 200 block of Home Avenue in Butler Township on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw