House catches fire after being struck by lightning in Marion Township, officials say

VIDEO: A Beaver County home was struck by lightning Tuesday morning according to fire officials. This happened around 9:40 AM along Route 588 in Marion Township. The woman was in the living room when the lightning hit. “I heard the lightning crack and flash and I thought it hit outside the house there,” said Sharon Hart. Then she smelled something burning minutes later. “And I look up and there was smoke pouring out of the peak of the house and then I called 911 and realized it actually got hit by the lightning,” said Hart. Fortunately, Hart was not hurt and got out okay. She called her husband who rushed home. “I saw some flames coming out of the peak of the roof and a lot of smoke,” said Bob Hart. Fire officials said there is a lot of damage to the home including smoke and water damage.
WPXI-TV NBC 11 Pittsburgh

Fire burns sheds, mill in Berks County; fireworks may have played part

PHOTOS: Fireworks may have played a part in an early Tuesday fire that burned several sheds, a camper and an old saw mill, officials said. Eastern Berks Fire Department and neighboring stations were dispatched at 1:56 a.m. to a report of sheds on fire in the 300 block of Lenape Road, according to Eastern Berks spokesman Paul Bartlett. Eastern Berks Deputy Chief Chris Schaeffer arrived at the scene and reported multiple sheds on fire and called for two more tankers, Bartlett said. Firefighters arrived and knocked down the blaze in about two hours. A tanker fill site was established by Engine 19 at the Eastern Berks station in Bechtelsville. Fire police controlled traffic around the scene. Eastern Berks Fire Chief Mike Mutter said the homeowner said he was setting off fireworks earlier in the evening.
WFMZ-TV 69 Allentown

Update: Suspects identified in Lebanon Catholic School arson

Pennsylvania State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are investigating the fire at Lebanon Catholic School early Sunday morning that’s believed to be arson. Lebanon City Fire Department Fire Chief Duane A. Trautman says both agencies came out on Sunday to review the damage and remained until Sunday evening. Lebanon City Police Chief Todd Breiner says police have identified several juvenile suspects utilizing personal interviews and video released via social media outlets showing a fire being set within the building. The names and ages of the juveniles were not released by police. The Lebanon City Fire Department shared images of the school around 6 a.m. on Sunday showing flames inside the building. The fire department said “vandalism and arson are now the story of a once proud school family.”
WHTM-TV ABC 27 Harrisburg

Fire guts Harrison home, damages 2 others

Fire crews responded to the scene of a residential fire just after 10 p.m. Monday on Walnut Street in the Natrona section of Harrison. Fire and EMS crews from Harrison, Brackenridge and Tarentum were on the scene after reports of heavy flames coming from an apartment in a two-story residence in the 20 block of Walnut Street, according to an Allegheny County Emergency Services release. Tribune-Review news partner WPXI reported that the fire started on the second floor and spread to the attic and then to a house next door. As of Tuesday morning, yellow caution tape surrounded three homes impacted by the fire. “Nobody was in any of the homes last night during the fire,” neighbor Deb Maylo said. “I hate to see fires.”
TribLIVE

1 sent to hospital after South Philadelphia house fire

A row house fire in South Philadelphia sent one person to the hospital. It happened just after midnight Wednesday on the 2400 block of South Franklin Street, near Ritner Street. Crews arrived to find heavy fire inside a two-story row house. The flames extended to neighboring homes. One person was taken to Jefferson University Hospital in unknown condition. While no one was inside the house that caught fire, neighbors were evacuated as their homes suffered smoke and water damage. It took firefighters around a half hour to get the fire under control. There is no word on a cause.
WPVI-TV ABC 6 Philadelphia

Fire marshal investigates blaze in vacant Nanticoke building

Firefighters spent roughly two hours putting a fire out in a vacant building. On Monday Nanticoke City Fire Department was called to the 50 block of Newport Street for a fire. The fire department says that when they arrived they noted that the building was three stories and there was heavy fire showing from the first floor. According to the fire department, units worked for nearly two hours to clear the building and hold the fire to the first floor. A Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal is investigating the fire.
WBRE-TV NBC 28 Wilkes-Barre

Plymouth Borough fire turns fatal

VIDEO: The coroner has confirmed that one person has died in the Plymouth Borough fire that started Sunday morning. The initial call came in just after 9:30 am. When the fire department arrived they learned that a child had been trapped inside. Plymouth Borough Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Robert Palchanis told Eyewitness News “We had confirmation that a child was inside but due to the fire load and the amount of fire that we had we could not make entry at the time. It was basically a defensive operation until we deemed it safe to actually try to do something.” The Plymouth Borough Fire Department says at least one of the homes has been destroyed beyond repair. It is unknown at this time how the fire started. Eyewitness News crews on scene say they witnessed the fire damaging neighboring homes as well.
WBRE-TV NBC 28 Wilkes-Barre

Firefighters rescue man trapped on roof during Bucks County condo fire

Firefighter in Bucks County rescued a man from the roof of a burning condo fire that erupted Fourth of July morning. Emergency crews responded to Nathan Court in the Newtown Gate Townhomes community for reports of a two-story fire at an end unit. Firefighters from the Newtown Fire Department said when they arrived they found a man standing on the roof of the burning home. Deputy Chief Liz Ellis told reporters the firefighters quickly stretched a ladder to the roof and helped guide the man down. He was brought to a local hospital with burns, FOX 29's Joann Pileggi reports. A neighbor who witnessed the Independence Day blaze first thought the sirens were from a local parade, then smelled the smoke.
WTXF-TV FOX 29 Philadelphia

Investigation Underway After 2-Alarm Fire Leaves Man Dead, 2 Firefighters Injured In Jenkintown

An investigation is underway into a deadly house fire in Montgomery County. Chopper 3 was over Summit Avenue in Jenkintown where firefighters got to the duplex just after 7:30 p.m. on Friday night. They found a man on the second floor, but he later died at the hospital. The two-alarm fire also sent two firefighters to the hospital, one for a possible heart attack. He’s in stable condition. The other firefighter was released after treatment for heat exhaustion. Several other firefighters suffered minor injuries.
KYW-TV CBS 3 Philadelphia

West Philadelphia apartment fire injures 1 person

One person was injured and an apartment has sustained a considerable amount of damage after a fire in West Philadelphia. Officials said firefighters were called to the 5300 block of Master Street Saturday morning, just after 8:30, for a fire in an apartment. Crews brought the fire under control in about 20 minutes. One person was taken to a local hospital with undisclosed injuries. Officials say the apartment was severely damaged in the fire. The cause is under investigation.
WTXF-TV FOX 29 Philadelphia

Lebanon Catholic School fire suspected as arson

PHOTOS: Arson and vandalism are suspected after a fire at Lebanon Catholic School early Sunday morning. The Lebanon City Fire Department shared images of the school around 6 a.m. on Sunday showing flames inside the building. The fire department said “vandalism and arson are now the story of a once proud school family.” It’s not known at this time if there were any injuries or exactly how the fire started.
WBRE-TV NBC 28 Wilkes-Barre