A fire ripped through a home in Essa Township on Thursday morning causing $100,000 in damages.
The fire broke out sometime after 8:00 a.m. at a house on the 10th Line, near Tangle Creek Golf course.
Donna Shiner had just arrived at work on Thursday when she got a call with the news.
“I was just getting in the door and then I got a call saying your house is on fire.”
Fire crews say they believe the fire started in the basement went out through the wall and straight up the side of the house.
“The basement is gone, it’s full of water damage right now for them trying to get to the fire, so a lot of destruction downstairs. And upstairs there’s a lot of cleaning to be done, our bathrooms collapsed, our top ensuite bathroom collapsed into the basement,” adds Shiner.
Luckily no one was home at the time. Fire fighters were able to contain the fire and prevent the flames spreadingto other parts of the house.
Even though much of the house was saved, fire officials say a home sprinklersystem could have made a big difference fighting this fire.
“A sprinkler system could have made a great deal of difference by extinguishing the fire, a monitored smoke alarm to get us the warning earlier and get us rolling earlier could have made a great difference,” says Essa Fire Chief Cynthia Ross Tustin.
Fire crews were on scene for much of the day putting out hot spots. Shiner and her family will not be able to go home Thursday night but they say they hope to rebuild as soon as possible.
Damage is pegged at $100,000 and the Fire Marshal will be notified but not called to the scene.
