Firefighters battle an early-morning house fire Monday in Washington Boro.
Firefighters battle an early-morning house fire Monday in Washington Boro.
An early-morning fire ravaged a Washington Boro home Monday, forcing three people to flee the flames.
The two-story house with attached garage at 16 Elizabeth Street was "pretty much fully involved" when firefighters got there, Washington Boro Fire Chief Brett A. Graham said.
"Unfortunately the fire had quite a jump on us, and until we got on scene the majority of the home was fully involved," Graham said. "Being in a rural area, we don't have the luxury of having fire hydrants, so until we got a water supply established, it takes some time."
Tankers drew water from the nearby Susquehanna River.
After water lines were established and pumpers and tankers on scene, Graham said, firefighters went into "a defensive mode" by getting their large-diameter hoses operating, and "getting lots of water on the fire quickly."
It took about an hour to get the fire under control.
There were no injuries, and the three residents, one of whom was wheelchair-bound, were safely evacuated.
Graham said between 60 and 70 firefighters from his own company, along with Highville, Millersville, Susquehanna, Mountville, West Hempfield, Maytown, Columbia and Lancaster Township fire companies, battled the blaze.
Graham had no estimate of damages and said the cause of the fire is still under investigation by the state police fire marshal.