Officials investigate fire at abandoned Sewickley house, scene of fatal March blaze
A state police fire marshal is investigating a blaze that further damaged an abandoned Sewickley Township house that was the scene of a fatal fire March 16.
Firefighters were called to the house at 1048 Yukon Road about 7:15 p.m. Sunday.
The house was engulfed in flames when crews arrived, said Bill Dull, chief of the Hutchinson Volunteer Fire Department.
He said officials had yet to determine the cause and origin of the fire but indicated it is considered suspicious. He noted the house had no utility service.
“It was abandoned and was already burned out once,” he said.
Passersby rescued resident Ruth Shotts from an upstairs bedroom of the two-story frame house when it caught fire in March. They could not reach her husband, David Wayne Shotts Sr., 65, who perished in the fire.
Ruth Shotts was hospitalized for treatment of smoke inhalation and burns.
The house was considered a total loss after the March blaze, Dull said. There were no injuries reported Sunday, as firefighters worked for about two hours to douse the blaze.
Township Manager Michael Gray said the remains of the house pose a health and safety risk.
“There’s really not much left of the house,” he said. “The back wall is still standing.”
He said the township will be in touch with the parties who have responsibility for the property to discuss options for demolishing the house.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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