One person hurt in Palmerton fire

One person is being treated for second degree burns, and three cats died, after a home caught fire Saturday afternoon in Palmerton.

The fire broke out at 5:16 p.m. at a single family home at 457 Lafayette Ave., according to Palmerton fire Chief Jason Behler.

When firefighters arrived, Behler said they saw a lot of smoke and some flames from the left side of the building coming through a window.

Behler said firefighters had the fire knocked down within a little more than 20 minutes after it started.

“The fire itself was held to one room; there was heat and smoke damage to some of the rest of the first floor,” Behler said. “The crews did a great job and contained it to one specific area of the house.”

The family is getting help from one of the victim’s employers. The Carbon Mini Mart in the borough set a plastic container on its counter with a picture of the victim and her family.

The note taped to the container says the victim’s husband and son were present at Saturday’s fire. They both escaped, but one had second-degree burns.

Behler said the home suffered moderate damage, specifically a lot of heat and smoke damage.

He said the cause of the fire is unknown, and that is was under investigation by a state police fire marshal.

Behler said firefighters remained on scene until 8:52 p.m.

Also assisting at the scene were the Aquashicola Fire Department, Bowmanstown Fire Department, Diamond Fire Company in Walnutport’s Rapid Intervention Team, Penn Forest Fire Department, Nesquehoning Fire Department, and Palmerton Ambulance.

“In the end, we’re fortunate for the weekend and time it was that we had people available,” Behler said. “It could have been worse; they did a great job in making a quick stop.”

Cori Mancuso, disaster program manager for the American Red Cross, said responders are meeting with the family this morning and will be providing them with assistance.

A total of seven cats were taken out of the home. Three of the cats died — two at the scene — while four others were injured.

“It’s a sad situation,” said Kristin Lucykanish, vice president of Palmerton Cat Project.

The remaining five cats were transported to Creature Comforts Veterinary Emergency Center in Saylorsburg, but one who was in critical condition, a cat named Rose, died Sunday afternoon.

One cat is still being treated for ulcers on the eye, and as of Sunday, the pets were still waiting on chest X-rays.

“The vet tech that I spoke to was very hopeful that they would be able to recover fully,” Lucykanish said.

An online donation page, which can be accessed through Palmerton Cat Project’s Facebook page, has raised over $1,400, all of which will go toward covering the cats’ medical bills and helping the family get back on their feet.

Danielle Derrickson contributed to this report.