Fire destroys home in Chartiers Township; one injured

Karen Mansfielķ

One man was injured, and a home was destroyed in a fire in Chartiers Township on Saturday morning.

Jim Southern, who shared the home with his daughter, Juanita Loar and her three daughters, was at home with his youngest granddaughter and was hurt after getting her out of the house and returning inside to try to put out the fire, according to Rich Southern, Southern’s son and Juanita Loar’s brother.

Southern was transported to West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment of burns and smoke inhalation, but is expected to recover.

Fire crews were dispatched around 10:30 a.m. to the home on Arden Road, said Chartiers Township Fire Chief Rob Fetty.

When firefighters arrived, they saw flames and heavy smoke spewing from the single-story house.

“It was a pretty bad fire,” said Fetty, whose department was assisted by South Strabane, Mt. Pleasant, and Canton Township fire departments. “It’s totally destroyed inside.”

Crews worked to contain the fire, opening walls and ceilings to stop it from spreading, “but the fire got into the roof area, and it took us about two hours to get it under control. There was a lot of smoke damage,” Fetty said.

The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshall ruled the fire was caused by an overheated electrical cord on a space heater in the basement.

The Chartiers community is rallying around the Loar family, who lost all of their belongings in the fire.

At least one of the girls plays softball in the Chartiers-Houston Softball Association and the Pa. Lady Knights softball team, and family friend Erica Riggle has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Loar, a single mom, and her family.

The funds will go toward helping them secure temporary housing, replace essential belongings and help cover medical bills as Southern recovers from his injuries.

“Every donation, no matter the size, will make a real difference as they begin to rebuild their lives from scratch,” Riggle wrote on the GoFundMe page, adding the family has been left “with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.”

Fetty said firefighters managed to salvage some softball equipment but are unsure of its condition.

Rich Southern said his sister and nieces stayed with a cousin one night and will stay at his home Sunday night.

“It’s just trying to figure out what comes next,” said Southern.

He said the outpouring of support reflects the strength of the Chartiers community.

“We appreciate all of the help from the community. Chartiers has always been a small town where people wrap their arms around each other in times of need. Now, unfortunately, it’s our turn. People have dropped off clothes, which helps, but they don’t even have suitcases to keep clothes in,” said Southern.

Juanita Loar wasn’t at home when the fire started because she was baking cookies and desserts with Chartiers Community Crossroads Church for the City Mission’s 32nd annual Sweet & Savory fundraiser on Sunday.

In the middle of the devastation, Loar attended the fundraiser anyway to assist with the church’s table.

“Right now they’re doing OK,” said Southern. “It’s just trying to pick up the pieces and go from there.”

To donate to the GoFundMe, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-juanitas-family-rebuild-after-fire.