Upon arrival of Chief Logan Fire Co. Lt. Cody Harsomchuck, he confirmed the information of fire showing from a mobile home with occupants unaccounted for. Harsomchuck stated he attempted to hit some of the fire with pressurized water which was on the duty officer vehicle from Chief Logan Fire Co.

Upon arrival of the first apparatus, Junction Fire Co.’s Tower Ladder firefighters from Junction entered the home and found the victim almost immediately while simultaneously attacking the flames utilizing hose and water from the truck.

Firefighters from Junction were aided in finding the victim by Mifflin County Regional Police Patrolman Dalton Derugen, whose quick thinking was able to aid the firefighters by looking through windows just prior to their arrival and seeing the victim.

As additional firefighters from Chief Logan Fire Co. and City Hook & Ladder arrived, firefighters converted a window adjacent to the porch into a doorway by cutting from the wall from the window sill to the floor.

Sentinel photo by SAM BAUMGARDNER
Firefighters work to extricate a victim from a house fire at 18 Sunflower Lane in Derry Township early Tuesday morning.

This action made access to extricate the victim much easier and faster. The victim was quickly removed from the building and taken by ambulance to Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital and subsequently air lifted to Lehigh Valley Burn Center due to injuries sustained.

According to Harsomchuck and Mifflin County Regional Police Sgt. John Miles, the only injury which was reported beyond the victim was to Patrolman Derugen who cut his hand on glass while attempting to help gain access to the victim.

Miles reported that the cause of the fire is under investigation and has been handed over to the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshall’s Office at the Lewistown Barracks.

Chief Logan Fire Co. was assisted at the scene by Junction Fire Co., City Hook & Ladder, Yeagertown Fire Co., Heritage Fire Co., Fame EMS, Mifflin County Regional Police, Pennsylvania State Police, and local fire police.

Sentinel photo by SAM BAUMGARDNER
Heritage Fire Co. Lt. Eric Bowersox takes a moment of reflection.