Firefighters respond to Hempfield house; residents escape flames
A house in Hempfield’s Fort Allen section was destroyed by fire Tuesday morning. Flames from the blaze sent billowing clouds of smoke into the neighborhood.
The owners of the house in the 318 Hopi Dr. were able to escape the burning house and no one was injured, said Hempfield Fire Department Chief Anthony Kovacic said.
The identity of the homeowner was not available. According to Westmoreland County property tax records, the home is owned by Daniel E. Lucas Jr.
A neighbor, Joe Foschia Jr., said that he was home Tuesday morning when he heard two slight thumps and thought it might be from a utility truck.
“I looked out the window and I saw heavy smoke,” coming from the neighbor’s house, Foschia said.
Foschia said his neighbor helped his wife get out of the house.
“He’a an angel to her,” Foschia said.
Kovacic said when firefighters arrived the basement was on fire and the first floor had collapsed, so the firefighters from multiple departments were fighting a defensive fire.
State police fire marshals were investigating the cause of the fire, which was reported at about 9:15 a.m., Kovacic said.
Firefighters had to work through cold and strong winds that at times bew smoke so thick it covered the house.
Hempfield departments were assisted by units from Greensburg, South Greensburg, New Stanton and Youngwood.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
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