Jun 14, 2024 By Paul Paterra 3 min read

Wednesday’s fire that left a family of five homeless and damaged several other houses in Donora has been ruled accidental by the state police fire marshal.

A GoFundMe account has been established to assist the family whose home was destroyed Wednesday and later razed. No one was injured, but a dog and a cat died in the fire.

Multiple fire companies responded to the 100 block of Thompson Avenue shortly before 4 p.m.

The fire apparently started at 131 Thompson, where Ed Povrzenich has lived since 2019.

Povrzenich said he and his girlfriend, Katie Somers, were at work when the fire broke out. Katie’s sister Emily was at the home babysitting their three children – Nicholas 7, Natalee, 5, and Karson, 2.

“They were all in the living room, and my oldest son was playing Xbox when he heard a weird noise come from the window of the front door,” Povrzenich said Thursday. “He was the one that noticed the fire. They bolted for the back door. Literally, within a minute of them getting out of the house, the front window shattered and the whole front door was completely engulfed. What we had saved was in the house. It went down with the house.”

Flames spread quickly to homes on either side of the house, causing significant damage to both.

Borough Mayor Don Pavelko said the heat from the fire was so intense that it melted the siding of a house across the street. Firefighters remained on the scene until about 9 p.m., Pavelko said. The house at 131 Thompson was razed Wednesday night.

Povrzenich admitted Thursday afternoon that it was difficult to think straight, as he had had limited sleep the night before.

“We’re just running around all over the place trying to figure out where we’re going to go,” he said, adding that the Salvation Army has provided accommodations at a hotel in Belle Vernon for three days. “We don’t have a plan yet; we’re trying to work on it.”

Povrzenich’s brother, Timothy Dillon of California, is coordinating the GoFundMe fundraiser for the family.

“My name is Tim and my brother Eddie Povrzenich and his family of five just lost everything to a house fire on June 12,” the GoFundMe page reads. “I’ve never done this or asked anyone for donations but this time I will. I would like to help them as much as possible whether it’s a dollar or even clothing for two adults and kids.”

The page asks for donations of children’s clothing in assorted sizes as well as clothing for an adult man and woman. For more details or to donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/stand-with-eddies-family-in-their-time-of-need.

As of 4 p.m. Thursday, $2,880 had been raised toward the goal of $15,000.

Povrzenich takes solace that none of his family was injured.

“We’re all together,” he said.