Two Uniontown homes damaged by fires
A wheelchair-bound woman was helped out of her Walnut Street home before it was damaged by an electrical fire early Friday morning. That fire was preceded by a suspicious blaze that destroyed a vacant house at 65 Lincoln St..
The fire at the Lincoln Street structure was reported at 2:08 a.m., and the fire at 45 Walnut St. was reported at 4:50 a.m.
“We just cleaned up from the first one when he got the second call,” Uniontown Fire Chief James C. Wood said.
State police fire marshals are investigating both fires.
When firefighters arrived at the fire at the Walnut Street address, flames had already spread to the attic of the two-story wood frame house, and Arlene E. Thorpe, the wheelchair-bound homeowner, was outside on the porch, Wood said.
Her son, Robert L. Thorpe, 42, suffered burns to three fingers on one hand and two fingers on the other when he attempted to move a bed in his second-floor bedroom, where the fire started.
The exterior of the house was being remodeled, but Wood said he does not believe the work was a factor in causing the fire.
City police noted that Thorpe had just borrowed money to install new siding on the house and she didn’t even make the first payment on the loan. Also living at the house were another son, Robert L. Thorpe, and Steven A. Deeds and Michael Deeds.
Three city firefighters suffered minor injuries during the fire.
Keith Amos had ashes or debris in his eyes, Roger Bricker had a small burn on his forehead and Assistant Chief Myron Nypaver twisted his knee, Wood said.
The North Union Township Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the fire.
North Union Township and Hopwood fire departments assisted city firefighters at the suspicious Lincoln Street blaze.
Wood said that fire started in a second-floor bathroom, and it appeared that the structure had been used for parties.
City police said neighbors reported hearing a loud crash before firefighters and police arrived at the scene. Other neighbors told police that a group of juveniles had walked between houses at 63 and 65 Lincoln St. some time before the fire started.
Bruce E. Triplett owns the vacant house, Wood said.