KERSEY — A fire that was reported early Tuesday morning at an apartment complex along Dagus Mines Road in Fox Township caused an estimated $80,000 in damage, authorities said.
Trooper Russell Stewart, an assistant fire marshal with the Pennsylvania State Police, said in a police report that the fire was first reported around 6:50 a.m. by a motorist that was passing the location.
The police report indicated the motorist helped five individuals evacuate the apartment complex while emergency responders traveled to the scene.
The building was made up of four apartments, but only three were occupied at the time.
When members of the Fox Township Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene, there was only smoke visible along the roof eaves, but firefighters soon began to fight a fully-engulfed structure fire.
Fox Township Fire Chief Scott Surra said that firefighters could see heavy smoke coming from the building upon arrival.
The department’s attempts to get to the source were halted as doors to the attic were padlocked. Firefighters had to take a defensive approach as the building became engulfed in flames.
The building was a total loss, authorities said.
Due to the fire, the center of the complex’s roof collapsed onto the second floor, which caused the second floor to collapse into the first, according to the police report.
Stewart reported the fire was investigated and it was determined that it originated inside the structure between the first and second floors, although he said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The victims from the fire are listed as Henry Snyder, 26, Christina Annis, 20, Mikayla Jackson, 22, Larry Fiedler, 51, and John Harvey, 45, all of Kersey.
Police report the damage was estimated at $80,000, but Stewart added there was an insurance policy on the building.
Surra said the building was used as the coal mine company store in the 1890’s but had since been renovated multiple times and was an apartment complex prior to the fire.
Fox Township firefighters were joined on the scene by the Fox Township ambulance, Horton Township Volunteer Fire Department, Crystal Fire Department (St. Marys), and the Jay Township Volunteer Fire Department. The Ridgway Fire Department was placed on stand-by at the Fox Township fire station.
From all of the fire departments, approximately 50 firefighters fought the blaze until approximately 12:30 p.m., officials said.
Surra reported that no firefighters were injured in the blaze and that all occupants of the building made it outside safely.
Fox Township’s road crew also assisted on the scene Tuesday as the crew used the township’s backhoe to help firefighters reach hotspots that remained.
