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Dog Dies in Luzerne County Fire

HUNTINGTON TOWNSHIP — Firefighters worked for hours in near record temperatures to save a home that went up in flames in Luzerne County. Fire crews say th...
luz fire 7-24-16

HUNTINGTON TOWNSHIP -- Firefighters worked for hours in near record temperatures to save a home that went up in flames in Luzerne County.

Fire crews say they were originally responding to a vehicle fire around 11:30 a.m. Sunday, but minutes later when they got to the fire, it spread to the home.

Blackened and charred, the house that stood for more than a century on Wrinkler Road near Shickshinny now stands as a shell of itself.

“The structure is still standing, but it’s a complete loss inside,” said Chief William Miller, Huntington Valley Volunteer Fire Company. “Flames had already consumed the first and second floor of the front of the house, and we called for a second alarm immediately.”

The fire burned for hours. Chief Miller says firefighters battled the flames by rotating shifts to avoid overheating.

“We limited the amount of time that the staff were inside due to the heat, and we had a rehab area set up and manned, and once they were inside for 10 to 15 minutes, we brought them out to rehab.”

The home is on a long windy dirt road, and crews needed to continuously truck in water, leading to an even longer battle in the intense heat.

Even the Red Cross was on hand, providing drinking water and a cooling station to help keep firefighters from getting exhausted in the 90-degree heat.

“With the extreme heat, you just have to make sure you have to stay hydrated and frequent breaks.”

The owner was home when the fire started but wasn't hurt. One of his dogs died in the fire.

A state police fire marshal is investigating, but the cause appears to be accidental.

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