A Scott Township neighborhood was disrupted Sunday afternoon when a house fire spread from one home to another, causing damage but fortunately no casualties. Firefighters were dispatched to the 1100 block of Grouse Drive around 12:30 p.m., as reported by WPXI, to tackle flames that started in the attic of the first house which sustained extensive damage, according to initial investigations.
One house was significantly charred on the side and back—damage that was visible as responders from police, fire, and EMS units arrived on the scene. The conflagration was intense enough to extend its reach to an adjacent home, which suffered smoke and water damage. Patrick Volk, a resident of the affected area, described the rapid escalation of the incident, recounting, as per WTAE, "My wife came and asked me if I heard an explosion, and I didn't. Then, about a minute later, she came down and said the house next door was on fire, and we needed to get out immediately. So I got out, and all our kids got out, and I saw fire racing up the outside of the neighbors' house."
The homeowner of the property where the fire originated was not present during the incident, reportedly on vacation, with possibilities that relatives might have been staying there in their stead. As of the moment, the exact causal factors that led to the trigging of the blaze remain under investigation and are yet to be determined.
Despite the potential dangers and the evident property destruction the blaze inflicted, officials have reported no injuries from the fire. The community's quick response and the absence of physical harm amidst such a spectacle speaks to the preparedness and urgency of local services provided by police, fire, and EMS personnel calibrating with the unexpected, bringing the fire under control before further harm could ensue. Additional information including potential changes in the situation and progress of the investigation are pending, as the affected residents grapple with the aftermath of an event that left tangible marks upon their homes and neighborhood.
