ASHLAND -- At least two people are without a home in Schuylkill County after a fire broke out in downtown Ashland and spread to multiple buildings.
"I have never seen anything like this," said Laurie Ann Lazarski, who lives right across the street in the 1200 block of Walnut Street. "We couldn't even walk outside the door. We felt that heat. We had to stay inside until it went down a little bit."
Investigators tell Newswatch16 it's too soon to determine an official cause of the fire.
But the owner of the home, who declined to go on-camera, said he believes the fire started after he knocked over a radiator and put it back. Only to learn from his girlfriend that minutes later, sparks started flying and set their curtains on fire.
Everyone made it out safely.
Ashland Fire Chief Philip Groody told Newswatch16 it took 15 different fire companies to help contain this three alarm fire.
"This was nasty," said Groody. "This was fully involved on all four fronts."
As firefighters started the cleanup process, Cheryl Harris had a chance to see the damage left on her home.
"Pretty much our siding is gone," said Harris. "It's melted. We'll have to take a look at the roof but it was hot. It was horrible."
The homeowner told Newswatch16 that he does not have insurance and will now have to stay with friends until he can get back on his feet.
The State Police Fire Marshal is expected to be on scene for an investigation Monday morning to determine a cause.
