Upper Gwynedd Family Safe, But Homeless, After Fire Claimed House Wednesday

UPPER GWYNEDD, PA — Three residents were able to escape their burning home Wednesday in Upper Gwynedd unharmed, although they will need to relocate because of the damage done to the structure, according to fire officials.

Fire crews were dispatched to the 400 block of Carmichael Drive just after 10:30 Wednesday morning for the report of a burning home.

One of the three occupants of the home at the time called in the fire emergency, and he and the other two individuals were able to flee the home uninjured, according to Conor McCann, deputy fire marshal for Upper Gwynedd Township.

McCann said Upper Gwynedd firefighters, with the assistance of numerous other nearby fire companies, spent around five hours battling the blaze, which was contained to the exterior of the home. Firefighters did not need to make entry inside the structure, McCann said.

“Exterior attack for fire suppression,” McCann said.

McCann did not say how the fire started, as investigators are still trying to determine its origin.

He said eight people in total live in the home, all of whom will now have to reside elsewhere.

“The structure is unsafe,” he said. “The family has to be relocated.”

McCann said there were no injuries to any of the home’s occupants or any of the responding firefighters.

In all, around 13 different fire departments assisted at the scene. The call came in as a second alarm.

McCann said he was unaware if there were any pets in the home at the time of the fire.

Upper Gwynedd Township Police said electric service had to be cut in the area while fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze.

On Thursday morning, the Upper Gwynedd Township Fire Department posted to its Facebook page that donations sites have been established to help the now-homeless family.

“Yesterday, a family in our community was devastated by a fast moving fire that resulted in the loss of not only their home, but all of their personal belongings,” the department posted.

The link to both donation sites can be found in the Facebook post.

The department is asking community members to consider donating clothing and other necessities to help the family get back on their feet.