SHAMOKIN TOWNSHIP - A cigarette is to blame for causing extensive fire damage to the basement of an Irish Valley home near Cherry Street early Sunday morning, according to Stonington Fire Chief Kerry Yordy.
Yordy said that the fire was reported at 1 a.m. at 337 Ash Road, which is owned by Lloyd Reitz and occupided by Sharline Bognacki and Ron Gessner.
A lit cigarette placed in a waste bin is the likely cause of the accidental fire, he said.
Although no one was injured, the fire caused $20,000 in damage, he said.
The first alarm fire brought out firefighters from Stonington, Overlook, Elysburg, Sunbury and Trevorton, Yordy said.
It took approximately 90 minutes for the stations to be returned to service after getting the fire under control, he said.