Water Street Fire, New Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 7, 2010, TamaquaArea.com

New Philadelphia Fire Claims 6 Homes and Damages 19.
Two Families Left Homeless.

Video by Andrew Leibenguth via TamaquaArea.com.

Flames shot 50 feet in the air as firefighters arrived on scene of a fully-engulfed structure fire stretching from 33 to 41 Water Street in New Philadelphia a little after 4 a.m. on October 7, 2010 which left two families homeless. Fire companies from all surrounding areas responded quickly with their aerial trucks and heavy apparatus to slow down the fast moving fire. The fire appeared to have a noticeable head start prior to the first firefighters on scene as it already consumed and partially collapsed three vacant row homes stretching from 33 to 37 Water Street and located at the intersection of Lombard Street. Sarah Burke, an elderly woman who lived at 39 West Water Street, which was also destroyed, was saved by a family member who was staying the night with her. Four people living at 41-43 Water Street, which was heavily damaged, are homeless as the fire quickly claimed their home. Those residents included Dennis Faust, who is New Philadelphia's borough supervisor, and his family members Mary, Dennis Jr, and Charles, as well as their two pets. A vacant apartment building located in the rear of 33 Water Street and at the intersection of Alliance Street and Lombard Street was also damaged by heat and smoke. A adjacent home located at 47 Water Street sustained heavy smoke damage. Many other properties surrounding the aggressive fire were also damaged from high heat and heavy smoke. A white plastic fence and vinyl siding of a nearby home located across the street from the fire was also melted. Fire Police and firefighters had to close SR-209 for the duration of the fire as to utilize all available water pressure, hydrants, and hosed needed to fight all sides of the fast moving fire. One nearby resident on scene pointed out that most of the homes were either vacant or shared by tenants, thus limiting the amount of people affected by the fire. It was only about a year ago, on October 17, that similar fire, located only a block up from this fire, claimed a number of homes on Water Street, to include a popular pub, Moe's Pub. Due to the temporary closing of SR-209 in New Philadelphia, Pottsville students were given a school delay to permit buses to arrive. Firefighters, paramedics, and fire police from New Philadelphia, Tuscarora, Brockton, Tamaqua, Blythe Township, Hometown, and other surrounding areas responded. Volunteers from the Schuylkill and Eastern Northumberland American Red Cross were on scene helping the families affected families with lodging, emergency financial assistant, and cleaning supplies. Red Cross volunteers also provided coffee and snacks to the emergency responders. No serious injuries were reported. Emergency crews and the Red Cross were estimated to remain on scene until about 11 a.m. this morning. The fire is still under investigation.

Followup Story:
http://www.tnonline.com/node/141098

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