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August 24, 2010

Dog dies in Hickory Township fire

By Staff New Castle News

NEW CASTLE — A house fire claimed the life of a dog last night in Hickory Township.

The family living at 2901 State Road also was temporarily displaced due to smoke throughout the home.

Four departments — Hickory, Scott, Slippery Rock and Shenango townships — were called about 10 p.m. to the house owned by David S. and Deborah J. Snyder. It is located across from the northern end of Newman Road. An emergency responder said the Snyders were not home at the time of the fire.

Hickory Fire Chief Tom Houston said crews were able to knock down the flames quickly. However, firefighters were at the scene for nearly two and a half hours making sure

the intensity of the heat and smoke spread no further in the multi-level frame home.

“It was well insulated and about 25 to 30 years old,” Houston said. “It took that long to make sure the home was safe with all that heat.”

Houston said the fire was mostly confined to the living and dining rooms, but there was a hole in the floor and insulation also spilled from a vertical, nearly one-story hole.

“There was smoke throughout the house and we had to pull some drywall.”

According to Houston, the fire most likely was electrical. He confirmed the state police fire marshal was called to investigate.

Houston said he was told there were three dogs inside and one of them perished.

Although he could not provide a firm estimate, Houston said the amount might be about $50,000,

“As house fires go, compared to what it could have been, that’s minimal,” he said. “They were very lucky that it didn’t get going worse. We could have lost the whole end of the house or worse.”

Medevac Ambulance and Hickory Township police also responded.

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