Amish families lose home to fire in Path Valley

WILLOW HILL -- Two Amish families lost their home in Path Valley on Thursday after a kerosene lamp apparently exploded.

The house at 14614 Creek Road was in flames before firefighters got the call shortly before 5 p.m., according to Metal Township Fire Co. Fire Chief Dale Hall said. Two people were injured.

“We saw the smoke as soon as we left fire house” in Fannettsburg, Hall said. “Fannett-Metal said they saw it when they got to Spring Run. A good bit of time elapsed before someone made a 911 call.”

The scene

One of the people in the house was handling a kerosene lamp when it exploded, Hall said. Flames spread. It took a while for someone to reach a neighbor’s house where the call was made.

Everyone was out of the house when firefighters arrived, Hall said. One resident had burns on his face. A MMPW firefighter apparently slipped on a ladder and suffered a minor injury. Both men were treated at the scene and refused further treatment.

Tanker trucks ferried water down a one-lane dirt drive for three-quarters of a mile to reach the house, according to Hall. Two would go down the lane, drop their loads, turn around at an adjoining farm and return before two more could make the trip.

“There was never a continuous flow of water,” Hall said.

Franklin Fire Company’s ladder truck helped knock down hot spots, but crews first had to interrupt operations to get it into position, according to Hall.

The three-story log house also had several additions.

Hall estimates that nine or 10 tankers hauled more than 50,000 gallons before the fire was extinguished. Firefighters were at the scene more than five hours.

More than 50 firefighters from volunteer fire companies from Franklin, Cumberland, Juniata and Huntingdon counties responded.  

About 30 people from the local Amish community came to the scene and helped the families salvage what they could, Hall said. They plan to help the families rebuild.

The log portion of the house was destroyed, and only part of the south side remained standing.

Jim Hook, 717-262-4759