Dec 14, 2017 3 min read

A fire early Thursday destroyed a home in the village of Hendersonville in Cecil Township, sending two families with young children out into the cold less than two weeks before Christmas.

Fire crews were called about 2:35 a.m. to the home at 404 Cardinal Drive, off Morganza Road.

“When we got there the fire had engulfed the back porch,” said Bill Cass, chief of the Cecil No. 1 fire department in Lawrence, which was the first fire crew on the scene. “We immediately went into a defensive mode.”

Cass said the residents were able to safely get out of the two-story frame home. No injuries were reported.

Cecil police Chief Shawn Bukovinsky identified the homeowner as Severo Andraca, who lived with his wife, Paula Hernandez, and their 6- and 8-year-old sons. Also living at the home were Matilde Hernandez and Francis Landron with their 3-year-old daughter. Bukovinsky believes they are relatives.

Cass said the cause of the fire does not appear to be suspicious. It apparently started in embers from a wood-burning stove.

Firefighters had to be battle not only the flames, but the weather, Cass said.

“We had snow squalls going through and freezing water,” he said. “It was cold and windy.”

Cass said there was plenty of help on the scene with firefighters from Cecil No. 3, McDonald, Fairview, Peters and North Strabane townships assisting.

“They were in the process of remodeling the house,” Cass said. “The house looked new from the outside.

“The family was devastated,” Cass added. “I felt really bad for them. It looked like the had put in a lot of work into the house. It is especially tough this time of the year.”

Cass said the Red Cross was called to assist. Bukovinsky said the family went to stay with other family members in Pittsburgh.

Among the possessions lost in the fire were the toys that the two boys received Saturday in the “Shop with a Cop” event hosted by township police at Walmart in South Strabane Township. Bukovinsky said Walmart is allowing the boys to come back to the store so they can replace what was lost in the fire.

Money and gift cards to help the family are being accepted at Hills Hendersonville Elementary School, 50 Mayview Road, Canonsburg, PA 15317, through Dec. 22.

Principal Shelley Brose said the boys are in first and third grades at the school.

“We want to be able to give them some assistance,” Brose said. “They are sweet boys, and it is a great family.

“I talked to the mom, and they are doing as well as can be expected,” the principal added.

Items such as clothing and household goods are not being accepted at this time.