MELCROFT, Pa. — Seven people were displaced after a house fire in Melcroft Monday.
The fire started on Hillview Drive in Saltlick Township at 4:15 a.m.
Neighbors on Hillview Drive woke up to commotion outside just after 4 a.m. Monday morning. Within minutes, they looked outside, saw smoke and flames next door, and decided to get out themselves.
“We wake up the kids, get them out, and then the house started getting into more flames,” said Hunter Smith, who immediately called 911.
“We were able to save the two houses on each side of the main house that was on fire,” said Chief Jerry Gales of Saltlick Township Volunteer Fire Department.
Gales said when his trucks arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames. He said crews immediately deployed deck guns to knock down the flames and had to fight the fire from the outside because it wasn’t safe to go further as the house caved in.
“Whenever the roof collapses, it’s collapsing on top of everything that’s on the first floor…and it’s impossible to try to get the fire that’s underneath. That’s always a trying ordeal,” Gales said.
Gales said a family of six and three animals lived in the house and were able to get out safely.
The State Police Fire Marshal is investigating the cause.
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