Mar 2, 2003 By Patty Shultz 2 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of a Friday fire that left a family of four homeless. A distraught 13-year-old Andrew Takoch sat on the sidewalk watching the black smoke billow from his home across the street and wondered whether the firefighters would be able locate the family cat.

“I tried to find her, but the smoke was burning my eyes,” he said on Friday of his search. “I know she’s scared.”

The teen was talking on the telephone when he smelled smoke in the South 8th Street residence shortly after 2 p.m.

“I didn’t know where it was coming from or what had happened,” he said.

Takoch said he called 911, but was reluctant to leave before locating Phoebe, the family pet.

“I called for her, but she wouldn’t come,” he said.

The smoke continued to pour from the windows and roof of three-story brick home for more than an hour, as firefighters from the city fire department and New Haven Hose Volunteer Fire Company entered the residence with water hoses to extinguish the flames.

Traffic was detoured from Route 119 northbound to various side streets around the fire scene by state police, Connellsville police and Connellsville Township firefighters.

Connellsville Police Chief Stephen Cooper said Saturday that fire investigator Sgt. Vincent Traynor was continuing to sift through the debris to determine how the fire started, but an official determination would not be made for several days.

The residents, Michael and Judy Takoch and a daughter, were not home at the time of the blaze.

Fayette EMS, South Connellsville and Bullskin Township fire companies also responded to the scene.