No injuries in Poland Mines blaze
DILLINER – Multiple volunteer fire departments responded to a structure fire Monday morning at 117 Allison Avenue in the Poland Mines area of Dilliner.
The fire started in a rented half of a duplex. The other half of the building was vacant.
Jim Hixon, 39, and his sons, Lakota, 15, and Kaleb, 13, were not home when the fire broke out shortly after 9 a.m. It was extinguished by 11:30 a.m.
Hixon’s brother, Nate Tasker, sister-in-law Kim and 6-year-old nephew, Andrew, who were staying with the Hixons, were also away from the home when the fire started.
Greensboro/Monongahela Township Fire Chief Gary Drew said the side being rented by the Hixons was a “total loss for contents.” The other side of the home sustained water and smoke damage as firefighters from the Greensboro/Monongahela, Nemacolin, Carmichaels/Cumberland, Point Marion, Bobtown and Rices Landing volunteer fire departments fought the fire. A state fire marshal was called to investigate the cause of the fire, which is believed to be accidental.
EMS Southwest also assisted at the scene with its mobile care unit. The air-conditioned unit gives firefighters a place to get out of the heat and smoke, hydrate and receive first aid if necessary. There were no injuries reported as a result of fighting the fire.
The Red Cross and Salvation Army were contacted to assist the Hixons and Taskers with clothing, temporary shelter and other needs, according to Drew.