Fire rips through city home
No one was home when a fire broke out Monday in the two-story house at 23 W. Katherine Ave., Washington.
According to Washington Fire Capt. Jerry Coleman, a woman and her children left the residence shortly before the fire started around 3:45 p.m. on the first floor.
“The state police fire marshal is leaning toward an electrical appliance in the kitchen (as the cause),” said Coleman.
Flames gutted the kitchen and burned through the ceiling into a first-floor bedroom. Coleman said there was also moderate smoke and water damage to the rest of the home, leaving it uninhabitable.
Departments from North Strabane, South Strabane and Peters townships assisted. Coleman said the fire was under control in about an hour and did not threaten neighboring structures.
“All the departments that assisted worked well together,” he said. “Thank God no one was injured.”