5 displaced from Uniontown apartment fire, 2 cats rescued
Alyssa Choiniere | 缅北禁地
Fairchance volunteer firefighter Zack Pringle rescues a cat, Sible, from a large apartment building fire in Uniontown Monday afternoon. Five adults and one child were displaced in the fire.
Alyssa Choiniere | 缅北禁地
Fayette EMS Paramedic Travis Caldwell administers oxygen to a cat, Sible, along with EMT Scotty McShane. The cat was rescued from an apartment building fire at 300 W. Main Street Monday afternoon.
Alyssa Choiniere | 缅北禁地
Firefighters work to put out a fire at a West Main Street apartment building in Uniontown Monday.
Alyssa Choiniere | 缅北禁地
Fayette EMS Paramedic Travis Caldwell administers oxygen to a cat, Sible, while EMT Scotty McShane treats another cat, Gracie. The cats were rescued from an apartment building fire at 300 W. Main Street Monday afternoon.
Alyssa Choiniere | 缅北禁地
Firefighters work to put out a fire at a West Main Street apartment building in Uniontown Monday.
Alyssa Choiniere | 缅北禁地
Firefighters work to put out a fire at a West Main Street apartment building in Uniontown Monday.
Alyssa Choiniere | 缅北禁地
Firefighters work to put out a fire at a West Main Street apartment building in Uniontown Monday.
Alyssa Choiniere | 缅北禁地
Tenant Ronald Romesburg looks on as firefighters work to put out a fire at a West Main Street home in Uniontown Monday.
Alyssa Choiniere | 缅北禁地
Firefighters responded to a fire at a West Main Street home in Uniontown Monday afternoon.
Alyssa Choiniere | 缅北禁地
Firefighters responded to a fire at a West Main Street home in Uniontown Monday afternoon.
Five adults and one child were displaced in an apartment building fire on West Main Street in Uniontown Monday afternoon. Two cats were rescued from the fire with injuries.
The blaze was reported at about noon Monday. No other injuries were reported.
The 300 W. Main Street building houses four apartments. The structure was a total loss, officials said. A neighboring house was endangered, but did not catch fire.
Preliminary investigation indicated the fire was accidental and started with roofing work on the deck involving a torch, officials said. The blaze rapidly spread from the deck to the roof, which collapsed.
Fairchance firefighter Todd Eicher found the two cats hiding in a bedroom. Firefighter Zack Pringle brought the cats out.
Ron Romesburg, the cats鈥� owner, had been pacing outside, worried for the cats and trying to plot a way to save them.
鈥淗ey, wait a minute, does he have a cat?鈥� he shouted, rushing to the firefighter.
Fayette EMS paramedic Travis Caldwell wrapped the cat, Sible, in a blanket and administered oxygen, giving it water with his fingertip.
Romesburg鈥檚 smile broadened when the second cat, Gracie, was brought from the house.
鈥淚 lost everything, but at least I got my cats,鈥� he said.
He lived in a second-story apartment adjacent to his daughter and 12-year-old grandson.
He said his belongings were destroyed, along with his family鈥檚 belongings. He did not have renters insurance. Romesburg said he did not know where they would spend the night.
鈥淢e, my daughter, my grandson 鈥� we鈥檙e done,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 have anything now.鈥�
The loss emphasized his happiness over the cats.
鈥淎t least one good thing came of it,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e my babies.
Uniontown Fire Department Lt. Scott Conn said the fire presented a challenge because it reached void spaces in the house. 鈥淏alloon frame building鈥� is a common feature of older buildings, which can create hidden fire trapped in the voids.
鈥淧eople don鈥檛 understand what it takes to fight a fire like this,鈥� he said.
He commended the work of the volunteer fire departments and assisting crews.
鈥淭he dedication of the volunteers is worth its weight in gold,鈥� he said.
Uniontown, North Union, South Union, Fairchance, West Leisenring, Hopwood and Adah fire departments, as well as Uniontown City Police, state police, Fayette EMS, and an EMS support unit responded to the scene. Dunbar fire department was on standby.
The American Red Cross was called to assist the families.
A portion of Route 40 between Byers Market and Long John Silver鈥檚 remained closed at about 2:30 p.m.