GLASSPORT, Pa. — A massive house fire in Glassport Thursday afternoon completely destroyed one home and left two others damaged.
The fire was reported about 1 p.m. on North Monongahela Avenue.
Neighbors described hearing a loud explosion. Once inside, crews discovered a potentially dangerous situation: dozens of rifles and boxes of ammunition.
“I was in the garage just 10-15 minutes before my wife called and said the garage was on fire,” said John McCombs.
Moments later, McCombs said his home went up in flames.
“It being an old building, it went pretty fast,” said McCombs.
Rick Vasquez, McCombs’ next door neighbor and a volunteer firefighter, said he heard an explosion in the backyard, and the fire quickly spread.
“I went over and made sure the neighbor was out of the house. (I) pounded on the door (and) got her out,” said Vasquez.
Police said they pulled 60 rifles and pistols from the wreckage.
McComb, an avid gun collector, said there were at least six to seven boxes of ammo in the garage, where the fire began.
He said he’s thankful his wife made it out OK.
“We got to go out and buy clothes. Got to get a bed and just start over,” said McComb.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. No one was injured.
WPXI
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