1 home destroyed, another damaged after major fire in Spring Township
A West Water Street home was destroyed Friday evening after a fire that spread to an adjacent building.
Crews were called to a reported building fire at 720 W. Water St. at about 6:40 p.m. Upon arrival, Malachi Moyer, Captain 2-1 of the Undine Fire Company, said he found heavy fire on the back side of the house with about 15 feet of fire coming out of the windows.
A water supply issue led to moderate fire spread to the adjacent building, Moyer said.
“Everything went smooth once we got the water supply hiccup sorted, and crews made a significant impact on the fire attack,” he said. “The main body of fire was probably under control in about an hour and a half.”
Several residents were inside the building at the time the fire started but made it out safely, Moyer said.
Bellefonte police officers were first on the scene and evacuated residents of adjacent buildings. No injuries were reported, Moyer said.
Lisa Grenoble, who lives in the house next to the initial fire, said her family evacuated after hearing noises from the house next door. The heat from the fire was so intense it melted the siding off of their house.
“I heard yelling and I heard what sounded like a fire alarm,” she said. “When I got outside out our back door I looked over and the whole back was all flames and flames were shooting out the windows.”
It’s unclear how many residents were displaced by the fire. Neighbors said the building housed several apartments.
Roads were closed in the area while firefighters battled the blaze, and Moyer expected fire apparatus to remain on scene throughout Friday night.
Numerous fire companies from across Centre County responded, including Logan, Undine, Boalsburg, Pleasant Gap, Centre Hall, Alpha, Milesburg, Howard and Miles Township fire companies.
“Three quarters of Centre County is here,” Moyer said.
Port Matilda and Snow Shoe fire companies, along with Lock Haven and Lewistown’s United Fire and Rescue were transferred into various Centre County fire houses.
The fire marshal was also called to the scene.
This story was originally published December 30, 2022 at 8:30 PM.