Fire crews raced to an intense house fire in Kulpmont, Pennsylvania in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Initially, residents said they were unable to find one family member although all were later accounted for.

One of the residents said her oxygen machine caught fire.

Shortly before 227 hrs on Sunday August 25 2019.

Residents at 516 dog started barking and alerted them to the raging inferno next door at 520 Pine Street. Thinking it was a prowler Marianne Rimokaitis’s & grandchildren cautiously peek out the window and noticed the flames as they dialed 911 prior to exiting the home. Upon exiting the home they noticed their elderly neighbor struggling to get out of the burning home as flames licked the front porch roof. With no time to waste Marianne grandsons leaped into action as they helped their neighbor out the front door and carry her to safety. They then placed her in a vehicle and moved it down the block slightly to protect her from the heat and live electrical wire on the ground. This caused some tense minutes while everyone looked for the remaining residence as no one could reenter the structure as it became fully involved prior to the fire departments arrival.
Northumberland County Communications Center dispatched a working structure fire with confirmed entrapment as some of the residences were missing. Pd arrived fire on scene and confirmed a fully involved structure fire and that they could not enter to look for the trapped person. PD also confirmed that they had live electrical lines on the ground limiting the fire departments approach initially.
Luckily it was eventually discovered that the 3 remaining residents escaped via the “C” side. Steve Wywadis, his 21-year-old daughter, Jessica, and her 20-year-old friend, Madyson Bateman, had safely exited the fire-engulfed home and gathered on a rear alley, and were unaware that the family matriarch was assisted out of the home by the neighbors.

“C” side Hazards were noted an in-ground pool with partial collapse of “CD” side. were noted.

Upon arrival the first in fire units found a fully venting fire with a partial collapse in the area of the “CD” corner while O2 tanks could be heard popping off. An immediate order was issued for large diameter hose lines along with deck guns being placed in service to gain an upper had on the fire. Multiple hose lines were stretched to the structure.
Kulpmont Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Gilotti upgraded the call to 2nd alarm status.
At the sun came over the horizon one could see the extent of the damage and multiple collapse zones as the entire home was gutted. One could also see the front was listing over two feet.

While Fire officials requested a State Police Fire Marshal visit the fire scene Monday morning as a cause could not be immediately determined. One of the residence (Susan) stated that her oxygen machine caught fire than there was a “poof.”

The neighboring home at 516 Pine Street sustained minimal damage as the vinyl siding, soffit melted and windows cracked due to the head. Luckily they had asbestos siding under the vinyl.