Dec 16, 2010 By Rebekah Sungala 2 min read

Uniontown Fire Department saved a second home from catching fire when a nearby house erupted in flames Wednesday evening. Fire Chief Myron Nypaver said a house owned by Rusty Mechling, located at 59 E. Kerr St., caught fire around 6:20 p.m.

Firefighters quickly responded to the scene and found the house engulfed in flames, Nypaver said, noting that crews encountered heavy fire while entering the building.

Nypaver said it wasn’t immediately known if someone was living in the house. An unidentified person had allegedly been staying in the house sometimes, he said.

Nypaver said firefighters checked the house for any inhabitants and were quickly able to knock the fire down. The structure sustained severe damage, he said.

According to Nypaver, a neighboring home located about 2 feet from the burning structure sustained only minor damage as a result of the firefighters’ quick action.

“The guys did a really good job saving the second house,” he said.

Nypaver said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. The state police fire marshal is expected to be on scene investigating the blaze today.

No firefighters were injured as a result of the blaze, Nypaver said. Crews were on scene for about three hours.

Uniontown Police Department and the city’s street department assisted Uniontown Fire Department at the scene. Hopwood and South Union volunteer fire departments were on standby for Uniontown Fire Department while the blaze was being fought.