Fire destroys house at Lutherlyn campground
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Flames this morning devoured a two-story house at the Lutherlyn campground.
No one was at the home where the camp’s site director lives, and no injuries were reported.
Dozens of firefighters from at least six departments relied on tanker trucks to pour water on the house; but soon after they got there just after 6:30 a.m. it was too late.
“We made an interior attack right away but it spread quickly,” said Chief Lou Zimmerman of the Connoquenessing Volunteer Fire Company. “Once the fire went into the roof, we got everyone out.”
Flames shot out the roof and lit up the second floor as firefighters set up a tanker shuttle to get water onto the scene.
Randy Gullickson, the 23-year director of the retreat campground, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, watched as the fire consumed the home.
Next to Gullickson was Patrick McGuire, the new site manager for the facility. He is so new to the job that he had not even moved into the house.
An apparent electrical problem in the kitchen Monday night forced McGuire to find temporary quarters at another buildings on the campground, Gullickson said.
McGuire stayed there overnight but in the morning when he returned to this home, he discovered smoke inside, and called 911.
Zimmerman knew of the electrical problem but would not speculate on a cause.
A damage estimate was not available but Gullickson said the house was insured.
Among the fire departments called were Connoquenessing, Prospect, Portersville-Muddy Creek Township, Evans City, Harmony and Unionville.