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Updated 57 minutes ago
A two-story Springdale Township house was destroyed, but no one was injured, Friday when a fire broke out on the second floor, officials said.
“We turned down the street and there were flames through the roof,” said Joe Luera, assistant fire chief for the Allegheny Valley Volunteer Fire Department.
Luera said the house, located at 860 Thompson Run Road, is considered a total loss and officials believe it had been burning for a while before firefighters arrived.
He said they believe the fire started on the second floor near the back of the house, but don't know what started it.
Luera said no one was home when the fire started and no one was injured.
An Allegheny County 911 dispatcher said the first call for the fire came in at around 11:45 a.m. Firefighters were still on the scene looking for hot spots around 1:30 p.m.
Springdale Township police Officer Joe Martino was first on the scene and saw smoke coming from the house, which could be seen from Route 28.
He said two adults and a child lived in the home. Their names weren't immediately available.
Martino said there also was window and siding damage to the house next door at 845 Thompson Run Road, but that house is vacant.
The fire is still under investigation, but no foul play is suspected, Martino said.
Neighbor Calvin Smith, who's lived in the area for 10 years, said he didn't know the homeowners too well, but said they were “good people.”
“They keep to themselves,” he said.
“There's usually somebody there.”
Three people identified as the home's occupants were on the scene as firemen battled the blaze but they declined to comment.
Smith said he didn't see any indication of the fire until he heard the fire trucks coming down the road.
Neighbor Jake Kinsey said he was sleeping when he smelled smoke and heard sirens. He woke up to make sure his house wasn't on fire and then looked outside to see the house on fire across the street.
He said it was a man who lived in the house with his daughter and granddaughter.
“This little girl just lost everything,” Kinsey said.
He planned to go out today and get supplies to donate to the family. He said that's what living in a community is all about — helping each other out.
“You're supposed to stick together,” he said.
The Salvation Army was on scene to assist the family Friday afternoon.
Emily Balser is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-226-4680 or emilybalser@tribweb.com.
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