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Food on stove starts kitchen fire, four occupants left homeless
Food left unattended on a stove started a fire at 44 West Sobieski Avenue on Monday evening while the home's occupants were away running errands, destroying a first floor and heavily damaging a second floor.
The blaze left four people homeless, according to U-Crest Fire Chief Daniel Kishbaugh.
The occupants returned home just as the first firefighting units arrived.
"They went out shopping and forgot all about it," Kishbaugh said. "They pulled up at the same time that we did. They reacted as if they realized something was wrong while they were out."
The Red Cross is assisting the family.
"Everything in the kids' bedrooms is shot," Kishbaugh said. "Hopefully their insurance company can step up and give them a hand."
Smoke was pouring out of all of the structure's windows when firefighters arrived to the 6:47 p.m. alarm, and fire was visible in a first floor window from the kitchen area.
"The windows were busted out from the heat," Kishbaugh added, "it was going pretty good."
Fire officials were initially apprehensive about West Sobieski Avenue's water supply, but their fears turned out to be unfounded.
Kishbaugh explained that the street's water supply is similar to one on Chapel Avenue, where a 2004 fire gutted a home. Firefighters were hindered by an inadequate supply of water from the aged system that was replaced last year by the Erie County Water Authority.
There was an abundant supply of water along West Sobieski Avenue, and firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the bulk of the fire.
Three lines of hoses, two on the first floor, and one on the second floor, were used to battle the fire. A fourth line was prepared, but was not required.
The home's balloon-style construction enabled flames to quickly spread to the second floor and attic.
Typical of older homes- records at the town assessor's office indicate the home was built in 1910- balloon style construction features walls in which the interiors are straight channels from the basement to the attic. When a fire breaks through a wall, it has a clear path to the roof.
Firefighters had to chop holes in the walls to reach hidden pockets of fire.
"That took a while," Kishbaugh added. "Those houses are old, but they're well-built. It was tough to get in."
Monday's heat and humidity took its toll on firefighters, and neighboring fire districts were summoned to assist at the site.
Firefighters from Forks, Hy-View and Rescue assisted at the scene. Cleveland Hill firefighters were later summoned. Kishbaugh estimated there were 60 firefighters at the scene, including 30 from U-Crest.
Pine Hill firefighters stood by to respond to other emergencies in the U-Crest district.
Damage was estimated at $50,000 including $30,000 to the structure and $20,000 to its contents. In addition, a pet iguana perished in the fire.
West Sobieski Avenue runs east off Dick Road, just south of the Kensington Expressway.
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