HEBE - A fire that gutted a home at 945 Hebe Bypass Road on Tuesday morning has been ruled accidental by a state police fire marshal.
Trooper Norman Fedder of state police Milton, who inspected the fire-ravaged home of Peter and Catherine Cortelyou on Wednesday morning, said the fire originated between two walls and was believed to be electrical in nature. "The only ignition source in the area was electrical wiring," Fedder stated in a press release issued to The News-Item early Wednesday afternoon.
Fedder estimated damage to the property at $175,000. He said the Cortelyous have insurance coverage.
Due to the damage and fire patterns observed at the scene, and the location of the fire, Fedder ruled the blaze accidental.
Numerous firefighters from rural areas in Northumberland, Schuylkill and Dauphin counties battled the blaze in a rainstorm for several hours at the two-story residence Tuesday. No injuries were reported. Firefighters from Klingerstown remained at the scene until early Tuesday evening to make sure the fire didn't rekindle.