Zelie house a total loss after fire
Fire in the county has rendered the second home in one week a total loss.
A house at 159 Oakdale Drive in Zelienople caught fire Thursday, April 13, evening as the homeowner burned yard waste in a portable fire pit on the patio attached to the rear of the house, according to Scott Garing, Harmony Fire District chief.
Garing said the home is uninhabitable because a large section of the roof and walls are missing, and the contents of the house were destroyed by heat, smoke and water.
Garing initially said the siding, structure and yard caught on fire.
Firefighters had to knock down flames in 1.5 acres of woods behind the house while fighting the blaze in the structure.
He said during the chaos, firefighters inside the burning structure managed to save about 30 irreplaceable pieces of military memorabilia.
Most of the pieces belonged to the homeowner’s late husband, Garing said.
“Part of our mission is to preserve life and property,” the chief said. “Life comes first, property comes second. Our crews are dedicated to retrieving items we see that appear to be very important.”
He said retirement flags, military awards, flags flown over the Pentagon and other memorabilia were saved by firefighters.
Tax records show the homeowners as Kenneth and Trinda Durboraw. An obituary for Kenneth Durboraw in the May 20, 2019, Butler Eagle listed Trinda as his spouse.
Durboraw served for 22 years in the U.S. Navy, according to his obituary.
Garing said the family has alternative accommodations, and the house is insured.
Firefighters also revived two cats in the front yard of the house, one of which appeared to be lifeless from smoke inhalation.
Garing said crews gave the cat air from their tanks, then medical oxygen before it began to perk up.
Both cats survived, he said.
No injuries were reported from the fire, Garing said.
Trooper DuWayne Baird, state police fire marshal, said it is unlikely he will investigate the blaze since the origin is known to be accidental.
Garing did not have a damage estimate on the fire.
The porch of a house on Vogleyville Road in Summit Township caught fire Tuesday and spread to the home, causing it to be a total loss as well.
The cause of that fire remains under investigation.
