By Bonnie L. Cook
The Philadelphia Inquirer
FORT WASHINGTON, Pa. — A fire of unknown origin damaged the $1.8 million Fort Washington home of former Montgomery County Commissioner Mario V. Mele Sr., a fire official said Monday.
The blaze at 1250 Pinetown Rd. was reported to officials at noon Monday, Fire Chief Eric Clauson said. The call came from Mele’s wife, Carolyn, who was in the house but escaped injury, a neighbor said.
The flames, which roared through the basement, first and second floors, took 45 minutes to extinguish, according to Clauson.
Seventy-five firefighters from Fort Washington Fire Company No. 1 and neighboring departments fought the blaze. The large contingent was needed because “it’s a big house,” Clauson said.
No firefighters were injured. Traffic along Pinetown Road was blocked until 3 p.m.
Clauson said smoke and water damage was extensive but he could not place a value on the damages. He declined to say where the fire originated or speculate on its cause.
An investigation will be conducted by Upper Dublin Fire Marshal Timothy Schuck. He was out of the office Monday.
The 11.26-acre tract was purchased in 1973 for $75,000 by Mele Bros. Realty of Glenside, and broken up into several lots. In 1998, the tract on which the house sits was sold for $1 to Anthony J. Mele, Salvatore A. Mele, Michael V. Mele, and Mario V. Mele.
The brick residence was built in 2002. It has 8,938 square feet of living space with two garages, according to real estate records, and was last appraised at $1,882,030. Next-door neighbor Thomas J. Wiser said Mario Mele lived there with his wife.
Mele, 69, a Republican, was elected Montgomery County commissioner in 1991 and took office in January 1992. He served two terms as chairman through 1999.
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