Fire destroys Benson Borough home Saturday morning

A state police fire marshal has made a ruling on a fire that destroyed a two-story home along River Street in Benson Borough early Saturday.

Carl Richards, a Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal from the Ebensburg station, said on Tuesday that the incident has been ruled as an "undetermined fire." He said he was unable to pinpoint an exact origin or cause for the fire, but added that he does not suspect arson.

Personnel from the Scalp Level-Paint, Hooversville, Conemaugh Township, Central City, Windber and Jerome fire departments were dispatched at 1:47 a.m. Saturday for a structure fire with possible entrapment, Scalp Level-Paint Fire Chief Mike Horvath said.

Flames break through the roof of this home along River Street in Benson Borough as fire crews work from the outside to put out the fire.
Flames break through the roof of this home along River Street in Benson Borough as fire crews work from the outside to put out the fire.

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When the first crews arrived on scene, they were able to determine that there was no entrapment, as the homeowner was able to get herself and a dog out of the house, Horvath said. However, the homeowner told Horvath that some other animals in the home were unaccounted for.

As crews arrived, there was heavy smoke and flames visible at the front of the home, which faces River Street, Horvath said. The firemen initially went inside the home to put out the fire, but then they switched to an exterior attack because the structure became unsafe.

"The roof had started to come in and (so) I pulled everybody out," he said.

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At that point, an aerial ladder truck from the West Hills Fire Department in Johnstown was called in to help as Scalp Level-Paint's aerial truck personnel were already committed on scene, Horvath said.

The West Hills Fire Department's aerial ladder truck was called to help fight the fire.
The West Hills Fire Department's aerial ladder truck was called to help fight the fire.

The firemen were also able to tap into at least one hydrant in the borough that is connected to the Quemahoning Reservoir's 66-inch-wide pipeline, so getting enough water to fight the fire was not a problem, Horvath said.

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"The water from the hydrants was excellent, there were no issues with water," he said. "(The fire) just had a really good head start on us."

Fire crews remained at the scene for more than four hours, as smoke continued to rise and hot spots flared at times. An excavation crew was called on Saturday to demolish the structure for safety reasons. Route 403, also known as Whistler Street, was closed from the Stonycreek River bridge to Border Street in the borough for a time while the fire departments fought the fire.

Smoke rises from the home as the West Hills aerial ladder truck sprays water onto the structure.
Smoke rises from the home as the West Hills aerial ladder truck sprays water onto the structure.
Scalp Level-Paint Fire Chief Mike Horvath said the home is a total loss. The state police fire marshal said it was an "undetermined fire," as he could not pinpoint an exact origin or cause.
Scalp Level-Paint Fire Chief Mike Horvath said the home is a total loss. The state police fire marshal said it was an "undetermined fire," as he could not pinpoint an exact origin or cause.

Horvath said the home is a total loss, and the Red Cross was called to assist the homeowner.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Fire destroys home May 27 in Benson Borough, Somerset County