Mar 4, 2003 By Patty Shultz 2 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Fire investigators will return today to the scene of a Friday fire to again sift through the debris in an effort to determine a cause for the blaze. “We know it started in the living room, but we’re not sure yet what started it,” said Sgt. Vincent Traynor, fire investigator for the city police department on Monday. “Right now, we’re considering (the cause) as undetermined.”

The blaze broke out about 2 p.m. and ripped through the three-story brick South 8th Street residence, owned by Michael and Judy Takoch, causing heavy damage to the first floor.

The couple’s 13-year-old son, Andrew Takoch, was the only person in the home at the time of the fire. He was not injured.

Andrew Takoch said that he was talking on the telephone when he smelled smoke and contacted 911.

While it was suspected that the family cat, Phoebe, had not survived the fire, Traynor said the feline was found in an upstairs bedroom several hours after the blaze broke out.

“She was found by an insurance agent that had come to meet with the family,” said Traynor.

Just minutes after the family had departed, the agent spotted the cat under a dresser and alerted him to the discovery, Traynor added.

“I was in that bedroom during the fire and it was hot in there,” he said. “I have no idea how she survived, but she did.”

Traynor is also a volunteer firefighter with the New Haven Hose Volunteer Fire Company.

He said the family was very happy to be reunited with their pet.

Andrew Takoch had said earlier that he delayed leaving the burning home hoping to locate the cat, but was later forced to escape when the smoke became too intense for him to stay inside the structure.

Traynor, meanwhile, said an official report on the cause of the fire would be released within the next few days.