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Fire destroys home in Fayette County

EVERSON, Pa. — A space heater likely caused a fire that damaged two houses in Fayette County on Sunday night.

This fire was so intense it not only destroyed one home on Brown Street in Everson, but also damaged the house next door because of its proximity.

No one was living in the damaged house, but the woman in the destroyed house lost everything.

“I stood on this sidewalk and I could see the flames shooting up over the roof and smoke coming out everywhere," said Jim Carson, a neighbor. “There’s not much distance ... it was windy. As that’s what they say causes flames to spread ... I was very concerned about that but there was nothing I could do at that point.”

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The woman who rents the home was at work at the time.

Firefighters told Channel 11 flames sparked in the back bedroom from a space heater left running.

“We suspect ... a space heater was plugged in on a chair and it overloaded and short circuited out,” said Jeff King, chief of the Everson Fire Company. “Power strips are bad. You always want to keep the heater three feet away from anything that’s combustible: blankets, clothing, bed sheets.”

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King also said to make sure the plug is securely in the outlet.

The woman’s two dogs and two cats did make it out of the house, but she’s still looking for the cats who are roaming the area.

She told Channel 11 the Red Cross is helping her.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO HELP:

  • Shirt sizes Large to 2XL
  • Pants sizes 16-22
  • Shoe sizes 9 1/2 and 10
  • Drop-off site at Loveli Foundation in Greensburg
 

Cox Media Group

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