Lansford officials praise fire response

Lansford Borough officials were pleased with the response to a house fire in the borough that occurred last week.

Meanwhile, fundraisers are underway for two of the families displaced by the blaze.

Borough officials thanked Chief Joseph Greco of American Fire Co. No. 1 during a public safety committee meeting Wednesday night.

Firefighters were dispatched after a fire broke out in a row of homes at 401-405 E. Abbott St. around 9 p.m. Feb. 2.

No one was injured in the fire.

Summit Hill, Nesquehoning, Coaldale, Mahoning, Tamaqua, West Penn and Tuscarora fire departments also responded.

Lansford Police Chief Jack Soberick said the fire department’s quick response prevented the fire from burning into the night, and fully destroying all three houses.

“You could see the training come into play,” he said.

Greco said that a large-diameter water line on Abbott Street put in by the Lansford-Coaldale Joint Water Authority was crucial to the response. The 12-inch line enabled the fire department to pump hundreds of gallons of water per minute onto the fire.

The water authority installed the large-diameter main in 2008 as part of a larger project, which provides large-diameter lines to most of the borough. Coaldale now has a similar main.

The total loss of the fire has not been determined. Greco said insurance adjusters will make the final decision.

Councilman John Turcmanovich said he couldn’t believe the efficiency of the volunteer firefighters’ efforts.

“If this town had to pay for that service, we couldn’t afford it,” he said.

The fire company is planning a spaghetti dinner on behalf of the Zona family. The dinner will take place 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 25 at the fire company. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children.

An online fundraiser set up in the name of another one of the fire victims has generated nearly $5,000. It can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/gmtd6-family-displaced-in-house-fire.