PINE GROVE — One person suffered burns in a fire that damaged a double home in the borough Thursday morning leaving a total of five people homeless.
Firefighters were called about 9:35 a.m. to 33 Maple St. and found heavy fire on the second floor of the home.
Pine Grove Fire Chief David Sattizahn said crews worked for about 1 hour and 45 minutes before bringing the fire under control, but not before flames spread to an attached home at 35 Maple St. occupied by Kenneth and Bonnie Snyder.
The home at 33 Maple St. was occupied by a woman, her son and his girlfriend, Sattizahn said. He added that the woman rents the home and her name as well as names of her son and his girlfriend were not available.
Sattizahn said the boy, who is about 18 or 19 years old, suffered burns from the fire.
He received emergency care at the scene by Pine Grove EMS and then flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest for additional treatment.
Sattizahn said since the home at 33 Maple St. had a metal roof, fighting the fire was difficult since the roof held smoke and heat inside the building.
Firefighters were able to reach the flames but were unable to keep them from spreading into the Snyder home.
Sattizahn said the 33 Maple St. home sustained extensive damage while the Snyder home sustained damage to the roof as well as water damage throughout.
Beside the man living at 33 Maple St. who suffered burns, the chief said no other injuries were reported.
Sattizahn said the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Pine Grove police Chief Thomas Trotter and state police fire marshal Trooper John F. Burns are assisting Sattizahn in finding out exactly how the blaze started.
Responding to assist were firefighters from Raving, Friedensburg, Joliett and Suedberg as well as Pine Grove fire police.
Additional units responded to the scene when Sattizahn called for a second alarm during the early stages of the fire.