By Steve Snyder
The Lebanon Daily News
LICKDALE , Pa. — An unfortunate chain reaction of events set off a fire at a home south of here in Union Township Tuesday morning, resulting in major damage.
When fire crews arrived at 295 Awol Road, at the intersection of Awol and Hoover roads, fire was coming out of the west-side windows of a one-story, wood-frame house. The inside was filled with heavy smoke, said Lickdale Fire Chief Paul Snyder.
The home’s owner, Guy Militello, called 9-1-1. Units were dispatched at 10:06 a.m.
There were no injuries.
The fire started when a dog knocked over a Christmas tree, which fell onto a lit candle. Melted aluminum siding testified to the fire’s heat.
Snyder said firefighters were able to bring the fire under control quickly. They chopped a hole in the roof to vent the house.
“We had a good knockdown,” Snyder said.
Tankers drew water off a hydrant about a mile east of the home and shuttled it to the scene of the fire.
Nevertheless, the home and its contents were a total loss, with damage estimated at $170,000. The dog escaped unharmed.
Militello, who lives alone, planned to stay in a horse barn on the property for the night, said Snyder, who called the Red Cross to help him.
Nine fire companies assisted Lickdale: Jonestown’s Perseverance, Ono, Fredericksburg, Bunker Hill, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville’s Union Hose, Union Water Works, Green Point and Ebenezer. Fire police and First Aid and Safety Patrol also assisted. Firefighters were on the scene close to two hours.
Snyder did not have a damage estimate.
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