LOCUST TOWNSHIP - Quick action by firefighters from four communities prevented flames from spreading through a two-story duplex dwelling in a rural section of this Columbia County township late Friday afternoon.
"It could have been worse," said Numidia fire chief Jack Mack while he and other firefighters investigated the damage caused by a blaze that climbed an outside wall and entered the walls of the home of Dan McCloskey, 47, West Lake Glory Road, and his family. The dwelling is located about one-quarter of a mile off Route 42, known as Numidia Drive.
No injuries were reported, but several firefighters were treated at the scene for heat exhaustion.
It was unknown at press time if the occupants, a family of three, have been displaced as a result of the fire.
The McCloskey's and their 16-year-old grandson, Christopher, were not at home when the fire started.
Flames and smoke were seen by a neighbor identified as Adam Wojtowski, whose home is approximately 500 yards from the McCloskey residence.
Wojtowski said he saw smoke and flames and ran through an open field toward the residence, noticing fire on the east sidewalk at the rear of the duplex.
When he arrived, Wojtowski attempted to extinguish the fire with a garden hose, but was not successful. Wojtowski's wife, Karen, called the Columbia County communications center to report the fire. The alert was relayed to emergency officials in Northumberland County, summonding additional units from Ralpho Township.
Fire units from Numidia, Catawissa, Montour Township and Elysburg responded along with Locust Township police and fire police.
Despite being in a remote section, firefighters from Numidia and Catawissa were, who were the first to arrive, successfully confined the flames to the outside and roof on the rear section of the duplex. They attacked the fire in the upper portion and walls of the structure, using water from booster tanks and from a supply pool set up some distance down a driveway.
"We're thankful no one was hurt," McCloskey said. "What we lost can always be replaced."
The home and contents are insured, according to the couple. McCloskey said the modern two-story home was constructed in the late 1990s.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by Mack.
