Volunteer firefighters from Logan Township United Fire Department battle a shed fire behind 3568 Juniata Gap Road on Thursday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

JUNIATA GAP — An electric heater left too close to stored pool chemicals is the assumed cause of a shed fire and subsequent explosion behind a Juniata Gap residence on Thursday afternoon, according to Tom Pringle, deputy fire chief at the Logan Township United Fire Department.

“The electric heater was placed in a shed with pool chemicals in it, which is a big no-no,” Pringle said.

The fire was under control in about 10 or 12 minutes, Pringle said, and most of the nine additional fire departments were called off. Those fire departments dispatched to the scene included United, Lakemont, Newburg, Greenwood, Excelsior, Sinking Valley and Pinecroft, with Phoenix on standby.

“We cancelled most of those once we got on scene and saw things were under control,” Pringle said.

Due to the chemicals in the fire, Pringle said all firefighters were equipped with self-contained breathing apparatuses. He added there were no injuries.

Not only did the first responders have to contend with below-freezing temperatures, they had to navigate icy driveways and high winds.

“The wind was really howling and pushing (the fire) down that way,” Pringle said, gesturing east toward the Penn State Altoona campus.

Logan Township United Fire Department was joined on scene by AMED and Logan Township police. PennDOT also assisted by treating the road and Penelec disconnected power to the shed, which had its own supply, Pringle said.