A quick response by firefighters saved multiple homes from major damage in a fire in Girardville Thursday morning.
Around 7:30am, fire personnel were called to 235 A Street in Girardville for house fire. Girardville Police Chief Fred Lahovski was driving up North 3rd Street after leaving an incident on Ogden Street and discovered smoke coming from the home with people frantic in the streets and relayed this information to Schuylkill County Communications.
The Girardville Fire Department was dispatched with Fire Chief Frank Zangari arriving first at the scene.
Zangari said when he arrived he quickly issued a 2nd alarm to call in additional help from area fire departments to the scene.
Fire departments from the surrounding communities arrived to the scene within 10 minutes of being called and were able to contain the bulk of the fire to the 235 address with the incident being marked under control around 8:20am.
The fire displaced a family of 4, all adults, who lived at 235 A Street. The family is being assisted with food, clothing, and lodging by the American Red Cross.
Seven pets that included 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 birds, and hamster all died in the fire.
The vacated home at 233 sustained smoke, water, and other damage.
The home at 237 A Street was occupied and sustained minor smoke damage. The woman that lives at the address was home at the time of the fire with Police Chief Lahovski being credited with alerting the woman and getting the woman to safety.
As of noon Thursday, the Girardville Fire Department was at the scene with Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal John Burns to investigate a cause.
Chief Zangari said that the investigation was preliminary but the fire started as a culinary incident and appeared to be accidental.
Zangari also credited the quick response by firefighters in holding the fire to the main fire building.
For photos of the fire, see the link below
https://www.skooknews.com/2021/04/several-homes-damaged-by-fire-in.html