Homepage
Related Photos
-
Patrick Cooley/Herald
Discussion
Fire destroys Findley Township family's home
Fire chief says blaze not suspicious
FINDLEY TOWNSHIP — Two days after Christmas, a two-story house in Findley Township burned to the ground in the early morning hours, leaving a family homeless.
Nine local departments spent more than five hours battling the blaze that engulfed the house at 348 Hartwick Road.
No one was injured in the fire Sunday at the home of Matthew and Dana Shealy, who lived there with their children Mitchell and Mattilynn.
A Mercer County 911 dispatcher said the first call came in at 12:19 a.m. and firefighters didn’t leave the scene until after 5 a.m.
Bill Finley Sr., the assistant chief of the East End Fire Department said the house was a “100 percent loss.”
Hours after the fire was put out, the only parts of the home still standing were an attached garage and addition on the south side. All that remained of the center section was the foundation.
“In the end, we had to bring in a piece of equipment to move (the debris) it was a total collapse,” Finley said.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated by the Pennsylvania fire marshal’s office, but East End Chief Bill Finley Jr. said it was most likely accidental.
He said the family was insured.
Fire trucks had to return to the scene on Sunday afternoon after some debris rekindled, but the chief said it wasn’t serious.
Including East End, Pine Township, Fredonia, Harrisville, Stoneboro, Jefferson Township, Grove City and Jackson Center departments responded to the fire, and Springfield Township firefighters were on standby.
Neighbors said that the family is staying at Mrs. Shealy’s mother’s house for the next few days and are looking for another place to stay.
The Shealys, who were at the scene Sunday afternoon, declined to comment.
- Local News
-
-
Court nixes ruling man is sexually violent predator
State Superior Court has denied a local judge’s request to issue a precedential opinion in a rape case.
Continued ...
Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge John C. Reed had ruled that Chad S. Thompson, 24, formerly of Stoneboro, is a sexually violent predator, but Superior Court said in a 2-1 decision July 8 that an expert’s testimony was insufficient to back that declaration.
-
Stacey wants to continue fight over razed home
Raymond Stacey has requests pending in three courts as he presses his long-running attempt to prosecute the city of Hermitage and those he believes are responsible for illegally demolishing his parents’ house.
Continued ...
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Philadelphia, on April 29 quashed an appeal because Stacey did not file his argument brief and appendix of supporting documents.
-
Burglars strike while residents sleep: Police issue window warning
Several Shenango Valley residents’ homes were broken into overnight Tuesday and Wednesday while they slept.
Continued ...
Two burglaries in Sharon involved people entering open windows.
-
Commissioners formally move to raise sewer fees
Hermitage commissioners introduced an ordinance Wednesday to increase sanitary user fees.
Continued ...
Residents tapped into the Hermitage Municipal Authority lines now pay $95 a quarter. That rate will bump up to $105 a quarter on Jan. 1, under the proposed rate hike.
Two more hikes on Jan. 1, 2012, and Jan. 1, 2013, will result in the rates increasing 50 percent from the current fee. -
Water is on at Forrest Brooke: Managers: Well pump shorted out
Continued ...
Water service has been restored at Forrest Brooke Manufactured Home Community after well problems left the 165-unit complex dry Tuesday.
A boil and conserve water advisory has been issued by the DEP and will remain in place until tests confirm the water is safe to drink, Forrest Brooke’s manager Pete Havens said.
-
Court nixes ruling man is sexually violent predator
- Sports
-
-
COLLEGIATE NOTEBOOK: Woods has banner year throwing shot
Former Grove City star Kristy Woods winds up to throw the shot at the U.S. Track & Field Championships where she placed 9th in the Junior Division.
KRISTY WOODS of the University of Buffalo boasted a banner 2010 season for the Bulls’ track & field team.
Continued ...
The former Grove City High standout and multiple PIAA placewinner and gold-medalist improved as the season progressed in Mid-American Conference, NCAA and ultimately, national-caliber competition.
- Landino, Gramley qualify for Kings finals
- AUTO RACING NOTEBOOK: Mike Lutz is chip off the old (engine) block
- Grove City Senior LL All-Stars earn berth in state tourney
- Outdoors: Paddling into the Allegheny River headwind
-
- Death Listing
-
-
Deaths from July 30, 2010
David Morgan Boyd Jr., 77, New Wilmington.
Frances B. Deets, 90, Greenville.
Robert M. “Percy” Garrett, 86, West Middlesex.
Edith Louise Smith, 89, Carlton.
-
Deaths from July 30, 2010
