2 hospitalized after Armstrong County fire
Two Armstrong County residents are recovering from smoke inhalation in a Pittsburgh hospital after a blaze that required 14 fire companies to snuff it out.
Brian and Ann Smith are recovering in West Penn Hospital after five Butler County fire crews were among those that responded to a 6:13 a.m. call Thursday, Jan. 16, at 412 Gaiser Road in West Franklin Township, Armstrong County.
The responding county fire companies were Buffalo Township, Chicora, East Butler, Herman and Petrolia volunteer departments.
Worthington-West Franklin Volunteer Fire Department President Terry Smith lives next door to the residence and was first on the scene before his pager alerted him.
Terry Smith exited his home to see Brian Smith outside barely clothed with no shoes while flames blew out of a window in the basement. He said Brian Smith had to trek about a mile and a half out of the valley to get cellphone service to call 911.
Terry Smith made sure the couple was stable before they drove off in their pickup truck. He said the two were expected to stay in the hospital for two to three days.
Crews were on the scene for about two hours and 45 minutes and faced problems getting water to the location. Terry Smith said with freezing temperatures and snow, trucks had to be careful driving into the valley. Firefighters also had to keep their hose lines from freezing.
The three-story home ultimately collapsed on itself into the basement, and nothing could be saved. Terry Smith said he had been neighbors with the couple for more than 30 years.
“You work all your life and lose it in just a few minutes,” he said.
Worthington-West Franklin Volunteer Fire Department was called to the scene twice after the incident and the next day for reignited kindling. Firefighters dump water on it when they are called but can’t put it out completely. Terry Smith said the fire will most likely burn out by Saturday, Jan. 18.
Fireproof — East Brady, a nonprofit that helps local fire victims led by Daniel Weidenhof, and Megan Dailey organized a GoFundMe for the family and has collected about $700. Monetary donations can also be dropped off in a sealed envelop at the Worthington-West Franklin Fire Hall, Fox’s Pizza Den in Chicora or The Coffee Shoppe in Chicora.
Terry Smith also contacted The American Red Cross and Salvation Army on the couple’s behalf.
Armstrong County emergency crews Kittanning Hose, Hook & Ladder Company Number 1, Kittanning Volunteer Fire Department, West Kittanning Volunteer Fire Department, West Hills Emergency Services, Kittanning Hose Company Number 6 EMS, Sugarcreek Township Volunteer Fire Department, South Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department and Clarion County’s Callensburg Volunteer Fire Department also responded.
“I’m very, very fortunate to have so many great fire companies around me,” Terry Smith said.
