GIRARDVILLE - Wednesday's blaze on the 100 block of West Main Street displaced 21 residents in four of the five homes destroyed, according to Girardville Fire Chief Frank Zangari
The smell of burnt wood permeated downtown Girardville Thursday morning as Zangari looked over the five destroyed properties as crews from PPL Electric Utilities arrived to work on a transformer at the scene that caught fire Thursday morning.
Zangari said the fire started at 112 W. Main St. about 6 p.m. and was considered under control around midnight. Fighting the blaze was very taxing on the firefighters, prompting the rotation of fire company crews.
"Between the weather and how hard it was fighting the fire, we kept recycling firefighters," said Zangari. "We brought Pottsville Fire Department firefighters and apparatus up here at 3 o'clock in the morning to relieve some of the Mahanoy City and Girardville guys. There were firefighters from all over. Between the severity of the fire and the weather condition - everything just froze up - everyone was exhausted."
The length and heights of the buildings were also challenges.
"People who pass by here don't realize that these homes are about 70 feet long, six to seven rooms deep. They were mazes for firefighters to go in and search," said Zangari. "In one home, the kitchen starts in the front, in another, the living room starts in front."
Building destroyed by the blaze were:
- 108 W. Main St. (One resident, Beverly Blackwell).
- 110 W. Main St. (Vacant).
- 112 W. Main St. (Angstadt family, nine residents).
- 114 W. Main St. (Mallamaci family, seven residents).
- 116 W. Main St. (Davis family, four residents).
"Right now we're trying to get housing for the victims through the Red Cross," said Zangari. "That's our goal right now."
Zangari said a teenage resident of the home placed an undetermined number of Duraflame fire logs into a wood burner, lit them, and left the home for a school event. About 15 minutes later, a family member smelled smoke, went to the basement where the wood burner was located, opened the basement door, went to the first floor and left the building, leaving the front door open, and went to the Davis home to call for help.
No injuries were reported involving residents or firefighters. Zangari said two cats in 112 W. Main St. survived, as well as some chickens at 116 W. Main St. Zangari said two firefighters had a close call while on a third floor.
"They escaped through the third-floor window of the Davis building," said Zangari. "The fire flashed up on the lower floor and they bailed out the window. Thank God the Rapid Intervention Team reacted like they did. Two ground ladders and the aerial truck took them down, and a little later they returned to do their jobs as firefighters.
In order to provide additional water, firetrucks were sent to Ashland to refill tanks, return to Girardville and fill an artificial pond near St. Joseph Church. Water was pumped from the pond to supplement the the fire hydrants. Water was also pumped from Mahanoy Creek.
Zangari said working smoke detectors made a big difference in saving lives in the fire.
"I do credit the smoke alarms for saving the lives of the people who did get out," said Zangari. "I'm happy to see that the homes had them."