Fire displaces nine in Old Forge
OLD FORGE - Nine people were displaced when a two-unit apartment building caught fire Thursday night.
Tenants at 206 Oak St. told firefighters part of the roof blew off during Monday's storm, and contractors had been repairing it Thursday, said Old Forge Fire Chief Mark Tagliaterra. He said the fire could have started because of a leftover ember or hot spot from the roof repairs, and the blaze, which started near the chimney, was accidental in nature.
Second-floor resident Jackie Doughitt said she smelled smoke, then saw flames and sparks coming from the roof, and got out of the building at about 6:30 p.m.
The building suffered heavy water damage and light smoke damage, Chief Tagliaterra said, and the nine people who live there will be unable to return immediately to the building. The American Red Cross was alerted and were expected on scene, he said.
No one was injured in the fire.
Old Forge, Greenwood, Hughestown, Avoca and Taylor fire departments responded to the scene.
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