Fire damages three houses in Donora
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
The sun rises behind a firefighter on a ladder as crews work to put out a fire Tuesday in three houses on the 900 block of Thompson Avenue in Donora.
Firefighters from multiple stations fight a fire that spread to three houses early Tuesday in the 900 block of Thompson Avenue in Donora.
A firefighter carries a bowl containing goldfish out of a home that caught fire early Tuesday in the 900 block of Thompson Avenue in Donora.
Firefighters had to work in temperatures near zero while fighting an early morning blaze in the 900 block of Thompson Avenue in Donora.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
An assistant Donora fire chief checks for any remaining hot spots in one of three homes that caught fire early Tuesday in the 900 block of Thompson Avenue.
A neighbor watches from an upstairs window as firefighters work to put out a fire that spread to three houses on Thompson Avenue in Donora early Tuesday.
Firefighters look for hot spots as crews work to put out a fire that spread to three houses on Thompson Avenue in Donora early Tuesday.
A firefighter perches on top of a ladder as crews work to put out a fire that spread to three houses in the 900 block of Thompson Avenue in Donora early Tuesday.
DONORA – Angie Santo said she awoke early Tuesday to the smell of smoke in her Donora home and noticed flames shooting out of the neighboring house.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Three houses caught fire in the early morning hours Tuesday in the 900 block of Thompson Avenue in Donora.
“I looked out and it was engulfed,” Santo said, adding that she quickly called Washington County 911 to report the fire about 3:30 a.m.
By the time it was extinguished, the fire that started at 972 Thompson Ave. had spread to two other houses, including Santo’s home at 978 Thompson. Flames also damaged 964 Thompson.
A borough fire official said no one was hurt in the fire by about 6:30 a.m., a blaze that drew at least six fire departments with firefighters working in frigid temperatures. He said a firefighter was later injured when he slipped on ice and fell.
Firefighters rescued five cats, he said.
The state police fire marshal’s office investigated the fire scene. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Firefighters work to put out a fire Tuesday that spread to three houses on the 900 block of Thompson Avenue in Donora.
Santo said the fire appeared to have started in the kitchen in her neighbor’s residence.
Her residence sustained the least amount of damage. The other two houses were total losses, the firefighter said.
Assisting Donora Volunteer Fire Company at the scene were firefighters from Monessen, Bentleyville, Carroll Township, Collinsburg and New Eagle.