Fire damages Derry home, leaves family with ‘about nothing’

July 26--A Derry family "has about nothing" after a Thursday evening fire that sparked while they were away, a family member said.

Dee Platt said her son, Melvin Platt, and his wife, Christine Platt, lived with their three children, ages 8, 9 and 13, at 311 W. Second Ave.

The family was at their Punxsutawney camp when the fire started, Dee Platt said on Friday.

Jason Campbell and his twin brother, Josh Campbell, assistant chiefs with Derry Volunteer Fire Department, were helping fire Capt. Steve Kozar move into a house across the street Thursday evening when they saw smoke.

"We were just leaving when we saw smoke coming out the back (of the Platt house)," Jason Campbell said.

The firefighters forced entry to the two-story, single-family wood frame home.

A neighbor who declined to give her name saw smoke and flames at the back of the house and was relieved to see the front porch light on.

"They always turn the light on when they leave," she said.

"By the time I looked again, the fire trucks were arriving. I think they did great, all the companies that were here," she said.

Campbell said the house sustained moderate to heavy damage to the first story.

Dee Platt said her son and his family owned the house and have insurance, but most of their furniture and clothing was destroyed.

She said the family had taken their dogs to camp with them, and she had kept their pet birds.

A cat was the only animal left at home.

"The firefighters said he barreled out the door as soon as it opened," Dee Platt said.

She said her son is a construction worker, and his supervisor has offered them temporary lodging in a Derry apartment.

"They are going back up to camp for a few days," Dee Platt said.

American Red Cross spokesman Kevin Brown said the agency assisted the family with lodging, food, clothing and shoes.

Jason Campbell said a fire marshal will investigate the fire's cause.

A firefighter who suffered a heat-related injury was treated and released Thursday evening, Josh Campbell said.

Mary Pickels is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-836-5401 or [email protected].

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