Fire ignited inside a single home on Market Street in Shamokin PA, early on the morning of August 17.

Firefighters attended the scene at 4:13 a.m. a a result of a two-alarm house fire.

Thick black smoke rises from the second floor of 634 S. Market St as the first responders attempt to tackle the blaze. The exterior roof has collapsed and the home appears to be completely unlivable.

Patrolman Ray Siko said all residents were out of 634 S. Market St. and neighbouring 628 S. Market St. when he first arrived.

Local newspaper reports claim that flames burned through 634 S. Market St. for more than one hour.

Firefighters had the fire under control by 5.45am

04:14 Hrs. Northumberland County Communications Center (NCCC) dispatched a 1st alarm working house fire in the area of 6:34 South market Str., Shamokin. The Shamokin Police Department was also notified that fire was in the back and it was spreading to additional homes.
Police officer and Shamokin Fire Investigator Raymond Siko confirmed a working fire from 8 blocks away from the fire then upon arrival ensured that all residence were evacuated while the fire department was still responding.

The fire was eventually upgraded to 2nd alarm status before it was brought under control in approximately 90 minutes with extinguishment shortly after 06:00 Hrs.
A defensive operation was mounted “due to the collapse of the roof,” said Bruce Rogers, chief of the Shamokin Fire Bureau. Rogers went on to credited the mutual aid response by volunteer firefighters from neighboring communities with assisting Shamokin’s volunteers and believes the origin of the fire to be suspicious.


Deputy Chief Ken Pilkus confirmed ““It was a well-advanced fire upon arrival.”


The fire is currently listed as undetermined by Siko "Due to the collapse and the unsteadiness of the back porch, we couldn’t get inside.

Transfer and cover assignments were covered by stations from Sunbury, Girardville, Elysburg and Atlas.

Mount Carmel’s Engine 2 once again self-dispatched to this call and ended up in a hitting a pair of legally parked vehicles. While the Shamokin Police Department concluded that the chauffer was at fault. No charges will be filed against the Ronald Coroniti.