No one was hurt in a Sugarcreek area house fire on Friday evening in which eight fire departments were dispatched, but the family lost a dog and a cat to the blaze, according to Utica Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Brad Deeter.
The origin of the fire at 880 Buttermilk Hill Road has not yet been determined, Deeter said, and the state police fire marshal is expected to be at the scene on Monday.
Deeter said the structure being a complete loss to the blaze is “a possibility,” but the two-and-a-half story, wooden farmhouse “is still standing” and “it still has a roof.”
There was “heavy fire” from the first-floor rear of the home, including the porch, kitchen and flames coming out of windows, according to Deeter.
Within the first 20 minutes after firefighters arrived, Deeter said, “We made an aggressive interior attack and got the bulk of the fire knocked down. It saved the whole house.”
According to Deeter, the family had a place to stay Friday evening and the Red Cross was to help the family find accommodations.
A second alarm was required, Deeter said, “because of the heavy fire conditions” and shortage of personnel, but “everything went smoothly.”
According to Venango County 911, the fire was under control by about 9 p.m.
In addition to Utica, Deeter said, volunteer fire departments from Rocky Grove, Reno, Cochranton, Polk, Cooperstown, Sandycreek and Seneca, along with Community Ambulance Service, responded.
