Indiana firefighters were kept busy as they responded to three structure fires yesterday.
The first fire was reported at 11:44 AM and firefighters from Pine Township, Clymer, Cherryhill Township along with units from Cambria County responded to the scene. Pine Township-Heilwood Fire Chief Keith Muir said that the fire started in the basement and left moderate damage inside the home of the Oswald family. Muir said that 18 people were living in the house. Everyone got out safely. The American Red Cross is providing assistance to the family. The cause of the fire is not known, but a State Police Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate.
The second fire was reported at 3:45 on Route 954 in South Mahoning Township. Rick Stenman of the Plumville Fire Department reported that it was a flue fire in an Amish home. No damage was reported to the home itself. Plumville fire department was assisted by Marion Center firefighters
Less than two hours later, Plumville and Marion Center would be called out again, with assists from Rural Valley and Clymer Firefighters, Citizens Ambulance and the RIG team for a fire at the home of Vernon Lockart at 4278 Mahoning Road in South Mahoning Township. The fire started in the basement of the two-story single-family house, and smoke was showing when firefighters got there. Smoke and heat damage was prevalent throughout the house, but water damage was limited to the first floor and basement. Stenman said the cause was a malfunction to the furnace in the basement.
