A house fire Thursday morning caused more than $300,000 in damage and brought firefighters from Berks and Montgomery counties to the scene, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
Earl Township Fire Co. and neighboring mutual aid departments were dispatched around 7:50 a.m. Oct. 1 after a passerby reported seeing black smoke coming from a house.
Firefighters arrived to 870 Mountain Road and found flames venting from the front and rear of the structure. Due to the amount of fire and limited manpower, a second alarm was requested, bringing additional firefighters from eastern Berks County and western Montgomery County.
Because there were no fire hydrants in the municipality, tankers were used to supply water to crews at the scene.
The fire was brought under control within about an hour. Firefighters remained at the property for approximately three hours extinguishing hot spots and conducting overhaul operations.
The Pennsylvania State Police Troop L Fire Marshal Unit investigated the origin and cause of the fire. Investigators determined the fire started in the rear of the first floor, in the kitchen area, and was accidental.
No one was home when the fire started. Family members were able to remove two dogs from the house before firefighters arrived, according to state police.
No civilians were injured. One firefighter was treated at the scene for heat exhaustion.
The house sustained significant damage throughout, with losses estimated at more than $300,000.
