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Grill leads to West Penn fire that displaces family of 8
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By Joseph Cress, Sentinel Reporter, June 18, 2008

Last updated: Thursday, June 19, 2008 7:25 AM EDT

Hot coals from a charcoal grill blown over by the wind ignited a fire Tuesday night that heavily damaged a West Pennsboro Township home and displaced a family of eight.

Emergency units were dispatched to 28 Watson Drive at 7:37 p.m. and arrived six minutes later to find flames on the back of the house, said Fire Chief Dave Kulp of the West Pennsboro Volunteer Fire Company.

The grill was on the deck when the wind blew it over and ignited the timbers, Kulp said.

“They had just taken the steaks off the grill about 10 minutes when they noticed the fire,” he added.

The chief said a few coals went through the deck and caught a lawn mower on fire. The gas tank exploded before firefighters arrived on the scene, causing flames to spread through a door into the basement.

The heat blew out glass sliding doors in the first-floor dining room and windows on a second-floor bedroom, causing the fire to spread further, Kulp said.

The chief said family members tried to fight the fire for five to 10 minutes before everyone left the home. The family consists of a husband, wife and six children, including a set of 6-year-old twins. Kulp did not provide full names of the family members.

According to the Cumberland County Tax Assessment Database, the home, assessed at $171,500, is owned by Dana K. Pope.

There were no injuries among family members and the firefighters who responded. A family cat is missing.

Kulp said the American Red Cross is helping the family, who have no relatives in the area.

The basement, bedroom and dining room were heavily damaged, while the deck was a total loss. There was smoke and water damage throughout the home.

About 35 to 40 firefighters from West Pennsboro, Upper Frankford, Friendship Hose in Newville, South Newton, Penn Township, Cumberland Goodwill and Empire Friendship from Carlisle were on the scene, Kulp said.

Several other units were in other stations on standby, including Mt. Holly Springs, Monroe Township, Vigilant Hose out of Shippensburg and Newburg. Newville EMS also responded.

Firefighters cleared the scene about 10:24 p.m.

Kulp advises homeowners that charcoal or gas grills should not be on a deck and should be positioned away from the home when in use.