Officials probe cause of Derry Borough house fire
Fire officials are investigating the cause of a blaze Friday night at a Derry Borough home.
The fire was reported shortly before 10 p.m. in the 700 block of East First Avenue.
Flames spread from the home’s porch but were quickly brought under control, the Derry Borough Volunteer Fire Department reported in a Facebook post.
Several people were inside the home and all were able to escape, according to Derry Borough fire Chief Josh Campbell. One of the occupants was checked at the scene by emergency medical crews but was not taken to a hospital, he said.
The department said the fire is believed to be accidental, but a state fire marshal was summoned to the scene to investigate.
Fire units from Bradenville, Blairsville and Latrobe also were dispatched, along with Mutual Aid Ambulance Service and Derry Borough police. Units cleared the scene at about 1:30 a.m., a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher said.
Derry Borough firefighters also responded to a fire just before 7 p.m. Friday at a home in the Peanut section of adjacent Derry Township.
The fire there was contained to the kitchen, and no injuries were reported, according to the department.
The Red Cross will offer assistance to those displaced by the fires.
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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