Lower Burrell home that was recently sold catches fire as old owners remove their items

Officials have determined that a kerosene heater caused a fire Friday night that severely damaged a house in Lower Burrell that had recently been sold.

After an investigation that ended shortly before midnight, city Fire Co. 3 Chief Brennan Sites said Saturday that he and a state police fire marshal were convinced that’s what sparked the fire that seriously damaged the house at 3164 Vermont Drive.

Sites said the previous property owner and another person were inside the two-story house removing items and clearing rooms for the new owner.

Both people were able to make it out safely. No injuries were reported.

“We don’t know if (the heater) fell off a bed or if kerosene fell onto bedding when the gentleman was refilling his heater, but that seems to be the cause of the fire,” Sites said. “It started in the back bedroom and quickly engulfed that whole side of the residence.”

Sites said flames began to burn from the back bedroom on the second floor.

Volunteer firefighters from at least five neighboring towns responded to the blaze shortly before 9:40 p.m. at 3164 Vermont Drive.

Fire crews had things under control within 15 minutes of arriving.

Sites said the the left side of the house was damaged by fire and right side sustained smoke and water damage.

“It’s salvageable,” the chief said. “It’s definitely not a total loss. We got a real quick response. We were out the door within minutes (of dispatch) with a full crew.

“When I pulled up, I had heavy fire on the side of the house and the rear of the house. I had heavy smoke coming out of the attic.

“Crews made an aggressive initial attack, found the seed of the fire and knocked a bulk of the fire down within the first 10 minutes on scene. Subsequent crews came in (and) looked for hot spots, extension (and) made sure the attic was clear.”

Lower Burrell crews were assisted by firefighters from Arnold, New Kensington, Plum, Tarentum and Upper Burrell.

“You never know with manpower what you’re going to get,” Sites said. “We’d rather be proactive and have more like we did today. We didn’t have to use everybody, which was nice.

“It was nice having them here and we have a good working relationship with all of them. It was good work by everybody that was here.”

The fire marshal’s official report won’t be available until Monday.