Blaze engulfs home, leaves man homeless

March 05-- Mar. 5--RUSH TWP. -- Fire left a Rush Township man homeless and killed his dog early Monday morning along Gravel Lane.

Daniel Wolfe was able to escape the blaze at his home at 14 Gravel Lane at 12:24 a.m., Southside Fire Company Chief Nicholas Fowler said.

Flames destroyed the mobile home, which was engulfed when firefighters arrived. The home is near dog kennels in the Klinesgrove area.

Fowler estimated damage to the home and contents at $20,000.

Fowler said Monday night he was able to reach the property owner, who doesn't have insurance.

He said the Red Cross is assisting him.

"He probably had taken in some smoke at the time," he said of Wolfe, who reported the fire. Fowler asked medics to check Wolfe, who is staying with friends that live further up the lane.

Snow hindered the response by firefighters and made it too narrow for tankers to get around each other on nearby Wolverton Road, he said.

The township crew "cindered real good and plowed to make it easier to get out," he said.

Fowler returned to the scene Monday morning and found the dog inside the home.

He said he continued to look for a cause, but will list it as undetermined at this point. The cause is not considered suspicious.

"Earlier in the night and probably at 10 p.m., we had a power outage with trees down in that area and we were called out for that. PPL came out and disconnected the power and two hours later we get a call for a structure fire. I don't know if there is a connection," he said.

He said five tankers pumped water along Gravel Lane to the fire. Southside used its new engine, which contains a system that uses less water than other engines, he said.

About 50 firefighters responded from Southside in Riverside, Danville, Mahoning Township, Elysburg and Stonington.

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