A family lost their home and at least two pet cats in an early morning fire on Monday in Brush Valley.
The blaze started at about 3 a.m. on the 100 block of West Main Street in Rebersburg. The two-story home was a total loss and most of the family’s belongings were destroyed, Miles Township Fire Company Assistant Chief Dustin Auman said.
Two adults, three children and the family’s two dogs were inside the home at the time and escaped safely. Auman said he is aware of at least two cats that perished in the fire.
Approximately 50 firefighters and fire police personnel from Miles Township, Gregg Township, Centre Hall, Millheim and Sugar Valley fire companies responded, along with Penns Valley EMS.
Miles Township firefighters arrived first on the scene to find heavy fire that started at the rear of the two-story home and spread quickly, Auman said.
“We went in and made an attack on it but obviously the smoke and heat from the fire already made it inside, which pretty much destroyed everything that they had,” he said.
“It spread very fast. It’s an older-style house, they call it a balloon-type house, meaning it doesn’t have many walls in it. There’s no fire blockers like the new current code requires between floors and stuff like that. So when it got inside, it moved very fast from the first to the second and even up into the attic.”
The fire was under control in about 30 minutes and no one was injured.
A fire marshal is investigating the cause. Auman said he expects it will be ruled accidental and the cause likely to have been electrical.
The American Red Cross responded to provide assistance, and the Schreckengast family who resided in the home are staying with family in Millheim, Auman said.
Community members are stepping up to help the family.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist the Shreckengasts with replacing their belongings.
In a post on the Together Penns Valley Facebook group, Lynda Bowersox organized donations of gift cards, clothing and legos and stuffed animals for the children. In a separate post, Tina Traxler wrote that she is organizing a meal train for the family.
“I know how our tiny community turn out in big forces when tragedy strikes,” Bowersox wrote. “Well now is the time we need you.”
Auman encouraged community members to aid the family in their recovery, and to support their local volunteer fire companies.
“We’re 100% volunteer,” he said. “At times like this, with high heat, we can afford water but a water donation is great. The fundraising we do… and just a monetary donation is always accepted. This place doesn’t run on grant money or taxes…. It runs on fundraising and that’s not just us; that’s any [volunteer] fire company.”
