ASHLAND — Twelve people are homeless, seven only temporarily, after a fire in the 400 block of West Centre Street on Friday morning.
Ashland firefighters were called to 421 W. Centre St. about 7 a.m. for a report of a house fire and found heavy smoke and fire to the rear of the home.
Flames then spread to a home at 419 W. Centre St. before crews from the borough and surrounding communities were able to bring the fire under control.
Patty Daley of the American Red Cross Tri-County Chapter identified those left homeless as Thomas Dando, 32; his wife, Elizabeth, 31; and their children, Genevieve, 5, and Kennedy, 2, all living at 421 W. Centre St. Also homeless was Peggy Conroy, 82, who lived at 419 W. Centre St.
Daley said the Red Cross is assisting the five with housing and immediate assistance which includes food, clothing and shelter.
The blaze also affected David Heyer, his wife and five children who lived at 425 W. Centre St. Daley said the family is temporarily homeless until their home can be cleared of smoke.
In addition to the 12 people affected, two dogs inside the Dando home perished in the blaze.
Ashland Assistant Fire Chief Charles Orth was one of the first on scene and said heavy smoke could be seen pouring from the rear of 421 W. Centre St.
Orth immediately called for a second alarm and shortly after called for a third alarm to bring aerial trucks and manpower from Mahanoy City, Mount Carmel and Minersville to the scene.
“From the front you could see heavy fire through the door,” Orth said. “The back (of 421 W. Centre St.) was already in flames.”
Scott A. Quin, American Legion 13th District finance officer, said local legion members were at the Ashland post home a short distance away preparing to depart for a ceremony at the North Schuylkill School District when they smelled smoke.
“You could smell it at first and then it just took off,” he said referring to flames shooting from the rear of the home.
Quin, other legion members and nearby residents began banging on the doors at 419 and 421 W. Centre St. to alert those inside.
Ashland Police Chief Mark O’Hearn said Conroy was rescued from her home and taken to a neighbor’s home across the street.
Ashland Fire Chief Phillip Groody said the fire originated to the rear of the Dando home at 421 W. Centre St.
Groody said the cause of the blaze has been ruled accidental but did not elaborate on an exact cause and origin.
He credited quick action by firefighters and the number of volunteers who turned out in keeping the fire contained to only two homes.
“I was amazed by the number of people who turned out considering what time of day it was,” he said.
In addition to Ashland firefighters, volunteers from other portions of Schuylkill County as well as Mount Carmel in Northumberland County, responded to assist.
Butler Township police assisted Ashland police in shutting down Centre Street, Route 61, while crews battled the fire.