May 3, 2002 By Amy Karpinsky 2 min read

DUNBAR TWP. – Fire destroyed an Oak Street home Thursday afternoon. No injuries were reported. Firefighters from West Leisenring, Monarch, Hopwood and North Union Township volunteer departments responded to the 12:50 p.m. blaze at the 328 Oak St. home of Walter Youler Sr.

The home is located off of Bute Road within a mile of the West Leisenring Volunteer Fire Department’s station.

Youler, who lives at the home with his wife and grandson, was outside with his dog working inside his detached garage when the fire started. He said he was working on a riding lawnmower inside the garage when he “kept smelling smoke.”

When he finally looked up toward the house, he said the back of it was on fire. He said he went running through the yard yelling for someone to call 911 to report the fire.

His brown and white dog ran over to the neighbor’s house, Youler said. He was the only person home at the time.

Steve Vojacek, assistant chief of the West Leisenring Volunteer Fire Department, confirmed that the fire started at the rear of the home. He estimated that the fire destroyed about 75 percent of the structure.

The rear section of the vinyl sided one-story home was still smoldering two hours after the fire was reported as firefighters were rolling up hoses and readying to depart the scene. Although the outside walls of the house were still standing, a large charred hole was evident near the apparent point of origin. Several fire trucks lined the steep street on the way up to the house as water flowed down to Bute Road.

Youler and a few neighbors watched helplessly from his garage as firefighters went through the house to ensure that the fire was indeed out.

Vojacek said although the fire didn’t appear suspicious, the fire marshal was called out to determine the cause of the fire. He said no injuries were reported.