Fire destroys house in Sinking Valley

Dog killed in blaze

A pre-dawn fire Wednesday destroyed a house in the woods off Kettle Road in southern Sinking Valley, just past the village of Elberta.

The man who lived there was at his third-shift job when the fire occurred, but his dog died in the blaze, according to Dave Miller, assistant chief at Sinking Valley Fire Department.

The fire doesn't appear to be suspicious, although a state police fire marshal is investigating, Miller said.

A neighbor was awakened by an explosion of an outdoor oil tank on the property and called 911, but by then the house was fully involved, according to Miller.

It took firefighters about 10 minutes to reach their station along Kettle Road after the 4:35 a.m. dispatch, then an additional three minutes to reach the house, which was far beyond saving by that time, Miller said.

"The building was collapsing in on itself on our arrival," Miller said.

It's conceivable that if the house had continued burning without firefighter intervention, the fire could have spread to the woods or other structures, although the homeowner "had a pretty good buffer zone" around the house, and the fire never touched a garage on the property about 250 feet behind the house, Miller said.

The homeowner has insurance on the house -- a rustic ranch with a basement and loft, about 35 years old, according to Miller.

Miller didn't have an estimate of monetary loss.

Neighbors have offered their homes for the man to stay if needed, according to Miller, who wasn't sure of the man's immediate plans, or if he intends to rebuild on the property.

Firefighters pumped about 18 tankers full of water onto the burning building -- between 25,000 and 30,000 gallons, Miller said.

Sinking Valley had help from fire companies that came from Greenwood, Lakemont, Bellwood, Allegheny Township, Geeseytown, Alexandria, Warriors Mark, United and Tyrone (Hookies).

Firefighters were on scene for four hours.

AMED was also called.

The house is approximately four miles from Pleasant Boulevard in Altoona, Miller said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.