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Washington County firefighter hurt escaping own burning home

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. — A Washington County firefighter had to break through a window to escape his own burning home Monday morning.

Officials said the fire happened on Parkvue Drive in Union Township.

Jim Askins said he hurt his hand when he punched out a window to escape. He was taken to a nearby hospital but was not seriously hurt.

"Whenever I opened up the door, the whole house was engulfed in flames. My 6-year-old was sleeping right there," Askins said.

Askins also saved his kids and pregnant wife from the blaze, but a family heirloom was left behind.

"That's another thing that's extremely hard to grasp. Those dolls were from the 1930s. They were my grandmother's baby dolls," Askins said.

Askins' wife, Amy Askins, said she's grateful her daughters made it out alive.

"When you're standing there watching your own house burn down and all the people you know very well come to help, it's tearing up," Amy Askins said.

Aside from Jim Askins, no other injuries were reported.