BRIEF: Garage fire spreads, damages house in Barry Township

April 26--WEISHAMPLE -- A garage was destroyed and the back of a home damaged in a fire Wednesday in Barry Township.

A garage fire, which later spread to the back of the house, was reported at 8:50 p.m. at 2 Mabel Road and brought firefighters from surrounding communities and a tanker task force to the scene.

Residents George Maurer, 89, and Dolores Maurer, 84, escaped, Hegins Valley Fire Rescue Chief Doug Williams said.

Dolores Maurer was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street as a precaution.

"She is OK," Patty Daley, disaster relief captain of the Tri-County American Red Cross, said.

"For now, it appears to have started in the garage area to the left of the building," Williams said.

The fire was under control in about 45 minutes. Firefighters were still on scene as of 10:15 p.m.

The Tri-County Chapter of the American Red Cross provided clothing and lodging to the Maurers. The residents had home insurance, Daley said.

The home had working smoke detectors, Williams said. A damage estimate and additional information were not available.

Contact the writer: amarchiano@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6028

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