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Limerick, PA As reported in the local newspaper... |
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LIMERICK -- Police officers on patrol acted fast, Saturday, waking a family of four before intense flames destroyed their home.
Officers
had been dispatched to 13 Ashley Drive at 5:42 a.m. for a report of
a fire, but with firefighters en route, three additional calls came
in about a deck fire at 118 Bradford Drive, which is just east of
Ashley Drive. At 5:44 a.m., county officials re dispatched firefighters
to that address for the structure fire.
The quick-spreading fire was not difficult to find.
"There was no problem seeing the fire from Township Line Road and
Graterford Road," Limerick Fire Chief Tom Walters said. "When I left
my house, I could see orange light from Swamp Pike and Ziegler Road."
According
to Walters, a couple and their two daughters were asleep while the
fire was quickly spreading.
"When police got there, the homeowners were not out of the building,"
Walters said. "Police were pounding on the doors to alert them that
there was a fire. At that point, the fire had not gotten into the
house."
Walters said the origin of the fire was believed to be a chimney built
in the middle of the deck. Although Walters said the fire did not
appear to be suspicious, Fire Marshal Dennis Rumler was investigating
the cause.
Walters said the fire is currently regarded as accidental.
"They were using (the chimney) the night before, and the embers may
not have been fully out," Walters said.
Officials estimate the damage exceeds a half-million dollars. Walters
added that Limerick Township Code Enforcement was expected to condemn
the building. A salvage team will collect any belongings that were
not destroyed.
The family escaped without injury, though a dog was reported to have
died.
A home at 17 Ashley Drive, about 30 feet away from the fire, sustained
between $2,500 and $5,000 in damage from the heat of the house fire,
officials said.
"The fire started on the deck and spread up the vinyl siding," Walters
said. "From that point, it spread very easily. Once fire hits vinyl,
it spreads pretty rapidly. Flames then moved up to the attic, and
part of the back side of the roof collapsed into the second floor
and into the great room, where the deck was attached."
Walters added that the deck was made of a plastic material called
"Trex," which he said is like pressed PVC. "What happens is that you
have a flammable deck," Walters said.
Firefighters were on the scene at 5:49 a.m., seven minutes after the
fire was dispatched. The fire was reported to be under control by
6:42 a.m. Responding were fire companies from Limerick, Linfield,
Perkiomen and Lower Providence, with Schwenksville, the Humane Fire
Company of Royersford and Collegeville standing by.
"The home appears to be a total loss," Walters said. "It is now uninhabitable.
When we got there, it was well involved with flames. A couple things
contributed to the homeowners not being able to get out right away,
one being the time of day and another being the materials that allowed
the fire to spread so quickly."
Firefighters were forced to use large master streams to fight the
fire, which Walters said was too dangerous for an interior attack.
The family plans to stay with some friends for the time being, Walters
said.
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