PINE GROVE - The fire that left a family in Washington Township homeless early Saturday morning started at a light fixture in the basement, Mike Stalnecker, township fire marshal, said Monday.
"You know those ceramic light fixtures with the pull chain? It started at one of those," he said. "I'm not sure how exactly it started, but I'm calling the fire accidental."
The blaze occurred at a two-story ranch home at 31 Fiddlers Road. According to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator, it's owned by Fredrick W. and Helen Leffler.
Fredrick and Helen were living there with several dogs, Stalnecker said.
"But I heard there were three adults living there. I don't know who the third one was," he said.
All of the animals inside the home were removed safely, he said.
The fire was reported to the Schuylkill County Communications Center at 1:45 a.m. Saturday. Responders included firefighters from Friedensburg, Pine Grove and Summit Station and Pine Grove Ambulance.
The blaze gutted the east side of the basement and caused significant damage to the first floor and smoke damage to the rest of the property. The home is not livable, Stalnecker said.
The scene was cleared at 4:02 a.m. Saturday, according to a communications supervisor.
The most difficult part about fighting the fire was the winter chill.
"Cold was an issue. Water on the road froze instantly. The township came out and salted the roads for us," Stalnecker said.
The Red Cross Schuylkill County Chapter provided three adults who were fire victims with food and clothing, Janet Cutis, the chapter's executive director, said in a press release Saturday afternoon.