The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

July 5, 2008

Amish woman’s burn death prompts probe of fuel tanks

LACKAWANNOCK TOWNSHIP — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is investigating reports of leaking tanks at a New Wilmington gas station following the death of a Lackawannock Township Amish woman.

Ada Kurtz, 25, died June 27 of burns suffered when vapors apparently flared as she lit a wood-burning water heater at her home on June 21.

Mrs. Kurtz apparently meant to use kerosene to fuel the fire but fire officials say gasoline was in the can.

The state police said no criminal activity is suspected in the accidental death.

“I was called, but I believe DEP has jurisdiction in this,” police fire marshal Jan Wilson said.

Freda Tarbell of the DEP’s Meadville office, said the agency is determining if there had been reports of leaking tanks at Pitzer’s Gulf Service Station at 212 New Castle St., New Wilmington, where the Amish family allegedly bought its kerosene, and at Reed Oil, which is Pitzer’s supplier.

“We are the agency that determines if fuel is leaking into the environment but we have no role beyond that. DEP is not authorized to analyze contents of the tanks,” Tarbell said.

Gary Wagner, chief of the New Wilmington Volunteer Fire Department, was at the scene of the fire. He said he believes gasoline – not kerosene – had been used to fuel the fire.

“It was a blue plastic can marked kerosene,” he said. “But it was gasoline that was in the can.”

Wagner added he was aware of no evidence that the substance had been mixed with anything.

Wagner said Amish residents in the area have been known to “put kerosene or gasoline into whatever container they happen to have. It may not be the safest thing, but that is what they do.”

He said he believes the borough’s kerosene supply is safe.

“State officials and the oil company checked the tanks (at the service station),” he said. “If they had found a problem, they would have alerted us and the police. That has not been done.”

Wagner added, “It has been quite some time since the station received a new delivery of kerosene.”

Text Only
Local News
  • Recycling program a bit too popular

    The  county’s effort at going green by encouraging recycling in rural areas has been a tremendous success by most accounts, but isn’t without a few glitches. In Wilmington Township, residents often only have a window of a few minutes to get cardboard recyclables in before the bin is full, prompting a discussion among Mercer County Commissioners Wednesday morning.

    May 25, 2012

  • District will tap reserve fund

    Reynolds school directors plan to fill a $374,567 hole in the 2012-2013 budget with money from the district’s fund balance.

    May 25, 2012

  • School board mulls change to sports chaperone policy

    In order to comply with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, the Sharpsville Area School Board is looking to adjust a chaperone policy it implemented six months ago.

    May 25, 2012

  • Afternoon crash hurts 3 high school students

    Three Jamestown High School students were injured – one seriously – when their pickup left a roadway in southwest Crawford County and crashed into a tree Tuesday afternoon.

    May 24, 2012

  • Board sells some, holds some

    Brookfield Board of Education members voted Tuesday to accept only the bids for the elementary school and the middle school, for a total of $97,050.
    The decision came after an hour-long executive session.

    May 24, 2012

  • Levey: Kohl’s project died with school vote

    Stripped of the necessity of voting for a tax incremental finance plan by Hermitage School Board’s unwillingness to participate, Mercer County commissioners said Wednesday they would like to meet with school board and Hermitage city officials to discuss other ways they can help Levey and Co. build a retail development in the city.

    But Levey spokeswoman Jeffrey A. Mills said there is nothing to discuss.

    May 24, 2012

  • Warden expects hectic season at county jail

    With the unofficial start of summer just a few days away, Mercer County Jail officials are preparing for a busy season.

    May 23, 2012

  • Levey officially drops TIF request

    Levey & Co. has officially ended its request for a tax incremental financing plan to build a retail development anchored by a Kohl’s department store.

    May 23, 2012

  • Grant will pay to fix 12-15 homes



    The City of Farrell will be able to fix up about a dozen homes in the city thanks to a $300,000 HOME grant from the state.

    May 23, 2012

  • Hard budget choices yet to come


     
    Hermitage School Board has been fortunate in many ways during the economic downturn that has been so hard on many other schools.

    May 23, 2012