COAL TOWNSHIP - The lone tenant of a three-story apartment building under renovation in the 1400 block of West Arch Street escaped injury Tuesday afternoon when fire broke out near her bathroom window on the side of the property, causing minimal damage.
Billie Jo Elliott, 35, of 1412 W. Arch St., Apt. 1, who was planning on moving Aug. 3 after reportedly being evicted from her apartment for not paying rent for six months, was left temporarily homeless in the 3:25 p.m. two-alarm fire. Elliott, who is not insured, had lived in the first-floor apartment owned by Kyle Mirolli, of Trevorton, since December.
At the scene, Elliott said she did not know where she was going to stay since the power had been cut to her apartment by PPL as a result of the fire. But Coal Township fire officials later reported that the fire victim will be provided shelter through the American Red Cross.
The top two floors of the apartment building, which escaped damage, are vacant and under renovation, according to Mirolli's girlfriend, Mindy Wynn, of Trevorton, who helps take care of the property.
Wynn said the building is not insured.
The fire marked the second blaze to hit a West Arch Street apartment building in a week. On July 17, fire displaced several people at 1246 W. Arch St.
"I was sitting at my computer playing a game when I smelled something burning," Elliott said. "At first, I thought it was coming from outside. But then I saw smoke and fire coming from the bathroom window and immediately called 911 before quickly exiting the home."
A very distraught Elliott was seen crying several times before being consoled by neighbors and family members.
Coal Township Fire Chief Russ Feese, who coordinated firefighting efforts with township assistant chiefs Kevin Malukas and Michael Timco and Shamokin Battalion Chief Bruce Rogers, said the fire was brought under control within minutes as firefighters quickly attacked the blaze from the front, rear and sides. They later utilized huge fans to ventilate the apartment.
"The first guys on scene did a terrific job containing the fire," Feese said. "They got it knocked down in five to 10 minutes."
Coal Township Patrolman Matthew Henrich said he spotted heavy smoke coming from a first-floor window when he arrived at the scene.
Feese said a second alarm was sounded due to the hot weather and because the call initially came in as a working structure fire. Fortunately, the extra assistance provided by firefighters wasn't needed.
All Coal Township fire units responded to the blaze along with AREA Services Ambulance, Shamokin Emergency Squad and an aerial truck from Rescue Fire Company in Shamokin.
He said Trooper Kirk Renn, a state police fire marshal assigned to the Milton barracks, will inspect the fire scene this morning to hopefully determine a cause and damage estimate.
Fire police cordoned off a few blocks of West Arch Street to motorists and firefighters remained at the scene until approximately 6 p.m.
Wynn told a News-Item reporter that Mirolli purchased the apartment building a year ago. She said he planned to renovate all three apartments. She said the top two floors were gutted and had no electricity.
She said two break-ins occurred at the apartment building last week.