A two-story single-family home was heavily damaged in a fire Wednesday at around 6 p.m. in a remote area of the East Mountain section of the city.
Scranton Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Hallowich said battling the blaze was “unique” because the remote location made it necessary for firefighters to stretch 300 feet of supply hose from the nearest fire hydrant. He said crews also accessed the fire by using UTVs, or off-road utility task vehicles.
The two occupants of the turn-of-the-century home at 1302 Palm St. were not home at the time of the blaze, but a dog and a cat died in the fire, Hallowich said.
Motorists on Interstate 81 first reported a hazy condition visible from the highway, suspecting a fire but seeing no flames. Firefighters initially suspected a brush fire, but soon determined the home was fully engulfed in flames.
“It was well advanced by the time it was observed and reported,” Hallowich said.
Connecting to the nearest fire hydrant at the intersection of Cherry and Froude streets required stretching the extended length of supply house, Hallowich said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.