A large fire caused extensive damage to a Westmoreland County home Friday night.Fire crews said the two-story home on Hoover Drive in Washington Township was a total loss. Two men were taken to the hospital. One was being treated for smoke inhalation and the other had a burn on his leg.Witness shares video of large flames: Watch the video belowWashington Township assistant fire chief Bob Baustert said firefighters were able to knock the fire down within 45 minutes. Two neighboring homes sustained heat damage to their siding.Peoples Gas responded to the scene. Baustert said the gas company determined there weren’t any issues with those homes.”We had a problem with the gas meter. Somehow the fire extended to the gas meter on this side of the house, opposite of the deck, so when crews arrived it was a gas-fed fire going on, plus the wind tonight,” Baustert said.According to Baustert, it is believed the homeowner and his adult son were on their back deck grilling. He said the men tried to put the fire out themselves, so the house had been burning for some time before firefighters arrived. EMS personnel who were responding to an unrelated cardiac arrest in the same neighborhood saw the fire. Fire departments were then dispatched. The fire marshal was expected to be on scene Saturday. Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. —
A large fire caused extensive damage to a Westmoreland County home Friday night.
Fire crews said the two-story home on Hoover Drive in Washington Township was a total loss.
Two men were taken to the hospital. One was being treated for smoke inhalation and the other had a burn on his leg.
Witness shares video of large flames: Watch the video below
Washington Township assistant fire chief Bob Baustert said firefighters were able to knock the fire down within 45 minutes. Two neighboring homes sustained heat damage to their siding.
Peoples Gas responded to the scene. Baustert said the gas company determined there weren’t any issues with those homes.
“We had a problem with the gas meter. Somehow the fire extended to the gas meter on this side of the house, opposite of the deck, so when crews arrived it was a gas-fed fire going on, plus the wind tonight,” Baustert said.
According to Baustert, it is believed the homeowner and his adult son were on their back deck grilling. He said the men tried to put the fire out themselves, so the house had been burning for some time before firefighters arrived.
EMS personnel who were responding to an unrelated cardiac arrest in the same neighborhood saw the fire. Fire departments were then dispatched.
The fire marshal was expected to be on scene Saturday.
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.