Heavy smoke fills sky as flames rip through house in Etna

ETNA, Pa. — Heavy smoke poured out of the roof of a home on Vista Street in Etna around 6:00 Wednesday evening.

The smoke quickly spread across the neighborhood.

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“When I pulled up, smoke was visible in the whole area here,” said Etna Assistant Fire Chief Todd Lunn.

According to Lunn, no one was inside the home when the fire broke out.

The homeowner, who lives nearby and rents out the house, was out back doing work on the home when he smelled smoke coming from the kitchen.

“Unfortunately the fire was in the walls, so it did spread up to the second floor,” Lunn said.

Firefighters battled the smoke and flames, as well as warm weather and a steep hill leading up to the house.

“A couple firefighters were evaluated and released by EMS for heat exhaustion and dehydration. One firefighter is being transported to Mercy Hospital just to be checked out,” said Lunn.

She is expected to be okay.

Meantime, firefighters say one cat was rescued and taken to the vet. A second cat is still missing.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Allegheny County Fire Marshal.

Officials say the home should be salvageable.

“I’d say [the damage] is moderate. It is rebuildable, but there is some damage because the fire was inside the walls,” Lunn said.

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