Blaze forces family to flee

A Freedom Township family of four was driven from their home on Simpson Road near Puzzletown Road early Christmas Eve by a fire that began in the basement and quickly spread to the first floor.

The blaze was difficult to fight for the Freedom Township Volunteer Fire Company because the steep dirt road leading to the relatively new home of Ted Simpson Jr. was covered with ice.

Fire Chief Ron Henry said Friday that cooperation among neighbors, an on-the-ball township salt truck driver, firefighters desperate to get to the blaze and luck combined to save most of the home.

However, Henry said the basement of the structure was gutted, and he estimated damage at $50,000 to $75,000.

The fire began about 7 p.m. Wednesday.

It occurred so suddenly that Simpson, his wife, Beth, and their children, ages 7 and 2, had to flee without their coats.

Ted Simpson Sr., who lives half a mile away, said when his son fled the home, he didn't even have shoes on.

The family's three cats also escaped without harm.

The younger Simpson made it to his father's home and called for help.

Henry and his firefighters already had a tough day, responding to two crashes and a tractor-trailer rig that slid off the road.

When firefighters got to Simpson Road, the trucks could not get up the steep hill to the home located three-tenths of a mile into the woods.

A township salt truck driver who heard the fire calls notified the chief that he would pick up a fresh load of salt and be at the scene within minutes.

Neighbors also responded with four-wheelers and transported firefighters to the home.

Henry said it took 20 to 25 minutes to get to the scene, but eventually only one truck was able to make it.

But luck intervened, he said.

Henry said the 6- to 7-year-old home had radiant heat between the floors. The heat melted the floor, and the water essentially put out the fire.

He said firefighters used fire extinguishers and only a small amount of water to extinguish the blaze.

Eventually 50 firefighters from six Blair County volunteer companies responded to the call for help.

Henry said the initial investigation indicated that a recessed light in the ceiling of the basement shorted out, and the hot light fell onto a couch that then caught fire.

The Simpsons had a family room in the basement.

The American Red Cross provided money for the family to purchase clothes, and Ted Simpson Sr. said Friday afternoon that family members were doing just that.

Simpson Sr. said the fire destroyed the family refrigerators and freezers and charred the floor joists.

The home's garage was not burned.

The extent of the damage is still under review.

"The neighbors were very good. They all offered assistance," Simpson Sr. said.

He also said he was thankful everybody got out safely, noting that the material things lost in the fire could be replaced.

The state police fire marshal was not available for comment Friday.

Mirror Staff Writer Phil Ray is at 946-7468.