The Freedom Township Volunteer Fire Company responded to a working fire with reported entrapment at 11:09 p.m. on Sunday. Photo courtesy of Freedom Township Volunteer Fire Company Facebook page

A neighbor caught a young man as he jumped from a second-story balcony during a dwelling fire between two buildings on Sunday along the 1000 block of Shamrock Lane in Newry Borough.

According to Fire Chief Ron Henry of Freedom Township Volunteer Fire Company, the department responded to a working fire with reported entrapment at 11:09 p.m.

The fire started in about 20 feet of space between the two buildings, he said. One building was occupied by the home renter, while the other was empty.

Freedom Township arrived on the scene after the victim was caught and saved, he said, and there were no reported injuries. While the home is insured, the resident is currently staying with a neighbor.

There was “extensive damage to both buildings,” he said. “It will probably be a total loss; they had structural damage.”

A separate one-car garage also began to catch fire, but did not sustain as much damage.

It took them about 45 minutes to control the fire, Henry said. They were initially concerned about strong winds affecting their ability to combat the blaze, but Henry said it ultimately did not hinder the crews’ efforts.

Ruled not suspicious, the cause of the fire is under investigation by the fire marshal.

Additional departments assisted with suppression and overhaul.

Duncansville Fire Department; Claysburg Volunteer Fire Department; Phoenix Volunteer Fire Department; Geeseytown Volunteer Fire Department; Lakemont Volunteer Fire Department; Blue Knob Volunteer Fire Department; and Southern Cove Volunteer Fire Department were also on scene, along with Duncansville EMS, the Freedom Township Police Department and Blair Township Police Department.

Phoenix stated on its Facebook page that the Newry fire counted as its eighth reported working fire in 2026.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.