DUBOIS – A Treasure Lake home was destroyed in an early morning fire Tuesday.
Firefighters responded to an alarm for a working structure fire at 4:54 a.m. at the home of Alma Obrien on Montego Bay Road. Obrien and her son were home at the time of the fire and called in the alarm. Both escaped the burning structure without injury.
Sandy Township Fire Chief Bill Beers and area firefighters faced a challenge battling the fire with temperatures bottoming out at minus 11 and windchills of minus 26. Besides battling the fire, firefighters also had to battle the elements when equipment began to freeze up.
Water was hauled from the Treasure Lake marina where there was a slight delay because firefighters had to cut through about 6 inches of ice to obtain water.
However, Beers said, “At no time was the water supply a problem. We never ran out of water. We always had a constant water source.”
Tankers from Rockton and Penfield were also called to the scene.
Sandy Township’s public works and road crews assisted during the emergency.
Units responding included Sandy Township units, J.E. DuBois, Sykesville, Reynoldsville and Falls Creek.
Units from Brady Township and Brockway were on standby.
One firefighter was injured when he fell from an iced-over ladder.
Beers estimated damage as severe, but said the home was insured.
The fire began in an upstairs bedroom, and the state police fire marshal was on the scene Tuesday morning to investigate.
Clepper Bus Service provided a bus for firefighters to a rehab area and shelter. The DuBois Chapter of the American Red Cross and DuBois EMS were also on the scene.
Fire units were at the fire site until 11:30 a.m.
Beers said that in his over 17 years of firefighting, this fire was one of the most challenging due to the extreme weather conditions. He said the firefighters did a superb job despite the weather conditions.
The remainder of the day was spent thawing and repacking equipment.