Second fire at city home being investigated
Michael Bryant is overcome with emotion as firefighters work to put out a second fire at the home of his mother, Velma Bryant, on Hillside Avenue in Washington Thursday.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Michael Bryant over come with emotion as firefighters work to put out a fire that rekindled at his mother Velma Bryant home on Hillside Ave. in Washington on Thursday, February 9, 2017.
A second fire at a Washington home within hours Thursday is under investigation by the state police fire marshal.
Firefighters were first called to the home at 446 Hillside Ave. at about 3:45 a.m. for an electrical fire that started in the kitchen and spread through the wall to the exterior and roof of the one-story frame home.
Fire Chief Linn Brookman said owner of the home, 85-year-old Velma Bryant, was awakened by the smoke detector and was able to escape safely. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze.
Firefighters were called to the home a second time at 9:45 a.m. when fire again broke out. Capt. Jerry Coleman said crews were able to see a large column of smoke as they approached and the fire was through the roof when they arrived at the scene.
It took firefighters several hours to extinguish the second fire.
Coleman said Brookman had been at the home shortly before 9 a.m., before coming into the fire station, and saw no signs of a rekindled fire. Within 30 minutes after he arrived, they were called for the second blaze.
“It’s not typical to have a fire get that advanced in broad daylight,” Coleman said. He added that the home’s gas and electric service had been shut off after the first fire.
No injuries were reported. City firefighters were assisted by Canton Township and the North Strabane Township rapid intervention team.