WHITE DEER TOWNSHIP -- A farm-house that was built just after the Civil War was destroyed in just a few hours this morning in Union County, and the homeowner says this is not the first time a fire has turned his world upside down.
Smoke and flames poured out of this old farmhouse on White Deer Pike near Lewisburg. Homeowner Fred Weaver works third shift, and was about to go to sleep when the fire started.
"I heard a really loud crack and the lights started flickering, so I looked in the kitchen again and I saw smoke starting to come across the ceiling. I grabbed the keys and went out the back door," homeowner Fred Weaver said.
Weaver says the fire brings back devastating memories for him.
"This is the second fire I've been through. I lost a daughter the first time," Weaver said.
It was in 2005 when Weaver's stepdaughter, Fallon Pardoe, died in a fire at the family's home in Milton. He's just thankful the latest fire was not worse.
"I had a real hard time a little earlier but I just thank God. If my girlfriend and her son or daughter would have been here I don't know what would have happened," Weaver said.
Weaver was able to move his car and grab a few things, but his girlfriend says that's it.
"He lost everything. Luckily there were no pets and he got out safe, but old memorabilia and everything was in there," Dawn Hadcock said.
Neighbors say this house has a lot of history. It was built right after the civil war almost 150 years ago.
"These houses were built right after the Civil War. There used to be a hat factory up here and they used to make hats. All of these houses, the older folks call them the factory houses," neighbor Larry Maynard said.
The fire chief says one firefighter was treated for burns at the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.