Fire causes damages to Lansford home

An elderly Lansford woman escaped unharmed Tuesday morning when flames broke out in her residence.

The fire happened at a home in the 300 block of West Abbott Street shortly after 10 a.m.

It happened at the home of Mary Berk, 92, who lives by herself. 

She said she tried calling 911 but her phone was dead so she went to a neighbor’s house and made the call.

Meanwhile, another neighbor, Terry Reed, said he had come out of his house, smelled smoke and saw flames at the Berk house. He called 911 and then said he grabbed a garden hose to help quell the fire.

Reed said the flames were in the vicinity of an exterior electrical box.

Berk said she has no insurance on the building.

Lansford Fire Chief Joseph Greco said, “Most of the fire was confined to the exterior (in the front northwest corner). Damage to the home was fairly minimal.”

Greco said a member of the Lansford Fire Department also had arrived at the scene in his personal vehicle very quickly and had grabbed the garden hose. He said the efforts with the garden hose likely helped to contain the damage caused by the fire.

The cause of the fire hasn’t been determined, Greco said. He said although the fire was in the vicinity of the electrical box, it possibly started where there were no electric wires.

“I can determine where it started but not how,” he said, indicating he doesn’t suspect foul play. He said he has asked a state police fire marshal to assist in the investigation.

There were no reported injuries.

Members of the Lansford, Summit Hill and Coaldale fire departments responded. Lehighton Ambulance Corps members also were at the scene.

PPL Electric had a truck on the scene, too.

Traffic control was handled by Lansford and Summit Hill fire police.