Discarded cigarettes are blamed for a fire that damaged a Pottsville apartment building Wednesday morning, one day after another fire claimed the life of a city man.
Firefighters were called to 1247 W. Market St. about 8 a.m. and found heavy fire to the rear of the three-story building, Pottsville Fire Chief Todd March said.
March said the investigation determined the occupant of the third floor apartment, Marjorie Kimmel, 83, discarded an ash tray containing cigarettes into a kitchen waste can a short time earlier and that those cigarettes caused the blaze.
March said all of the occupants of the building were able to get out, but Kimmel and a person in a neighboring home were taken to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.
“There was heavy smoke and fire to the back of the building when I got here,” the chief said. “They (firefighters) did a good job knocking it down.”
March said the fire damage was contained to the 1247 W. Market St. structure but properties at 1245 and 1249 W. Market St. sustained smoke damage.
He said that despite an often lack of manpower during the daytime hours, all Pottsville companies responded and knocked the bulk of the fire down within minutes. Crews then searched the 1247 building for anyone inside since the initial call reported people trapped and some jumping from rear windows.
“There was no one trapped and no one jumped,” March said.
Officials of the American Red Cross Tri County Chapter reported the following people were displaced by the fire.
• 1245 W. Market St. — Michael Borinsky, 34, his wife Beth, 34, and their children Ethan, 14, Sky, 11, and Azriel, 7.
• 1247 W. Market St. — Margerie Kimmel, her niece, Sandy Kimmel, 68, and her grandson, Darren Drey, 20. The Schuylkill County Parcel Locator lists the owner of the home as John D. Yeager and Cheryl Leskin, also known as Cheryl Yeager.
• 1249 W. Market St. — a property owned by Francisco J. Ortiz and Darcey L. Ortiz, an apartment building occupied by several people whose identities were not available.
The Red Cross provided food and clothing to eight people affected by the fire living in the 1245 and 1247 W. Market St. properties. Residents of 1249 W. Market St. property did not require assistance and will receive assistance from the owner of the building.
Ethan Borinksy, 14, said he was inside his 1245 W. Market St. house with other family members when he heard a “snap, crackle, pop” and knew something was wrong and told his father, Michael Borinsky, to call 911.
“Smoke just filled the house,” he said.
Both Michael and Ethan Borinsky were able to escape their home while three others who live there were not there at the time of the fire.
Assisting firefighters at the scene were Pottsville police, Pottsville fire police, Schuylkill EMS and the Schuylkill Haven Fire Department Rapid Intervention Team.