Fire displaces 1, claims cat
Fire chief: Community rallies in support
Trending
MILROY -- James Hunter was sitting in a church pew at the sanctuary next to his 3785 New Lancaster Valley Road home when he and other churchgoers heard an explosion.
Congregants stood up to see where the sound came from and before they could sit back down, they saw flames shooting up from Hunter's home.
"Within seconds, the whole place was fully engulfed," said New Lancaster Valley Fire Company Chief Nick Seaholtz, who was among first on scene.
"When I came through Reeds Gap State Park, I could see it four miles out in the sky," he said. "From the time the call was dispatched to the time I was on the scene was less than six minutes."
But even that was too late.
Although the outside of the residence remains, Hunter's home was considered a total loss.
Fire crews were dispatched at 7:13 p.m. and immediately called a second alarm, Seaholtz said.
The fire "went through the house like a rocket. When it caught air, it did a flashover (ignition caused by flammable gasses). I was within 30 feet. When that happened, it knocked me back another 30 feet."
Despite quick reaction times by emergency responders, Hunter lost his cat to the blaze. No other injuries were sustained.
The fire chief wished to thank community members, who he said were quick to assist -- some former responders who grabbed hoses to help fight the fire, while others supplied food and water for the firefighters. Some also aided in cleanup efforts.
Seaholtz describes Hunter -- known by some as "Cowboy" -- as someone well known within the New Lancaster Valley community and even would help out at the fire company from time to time.
"Everybody really came together...that's something you don't always see during a fire. The respect they gave that man -- it was really nice to see."
Due to health conditions, Seaholtz said the American Red Cross had difficulty finding a place for him to stay for the night.
"He was still (at the fire company) after 11 p.m.," he said.
Eventually, he was transported to Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital where he could be treated for health conditions.
As of Tuesday afternoon, fire officials were unsure of Hunter's whereabouts, but Seaholtlz said the fire department held a meeting Tuesday evening to discuss fundraising efforts.
"James is always one to crack a joke....but would take the shirt right off his back for you," Seaholtz said.
The official cause of the fire is under investigation. The Sentinel will issue updates as more information becomes available.