Duryea residence damaged in two-alarm blaze
DURYEA – A two-alarm fire which heavily damaged two apartments and displaced at least one family at 417-419 Stephenson St. on Wednesday is under investigation.
Fire crews arrived at the four-apartment building around 4 p.m. to find the rear of the vacant downstairs apartment of 417 Stephenson St. in flames.
"When they got here, this whole back was a ball of fire," Germania Hose co. Assistant Chief Joe Korea said.
He said two people in the upstairs apartment were home at the time and managed to escape, although they had to be treated for smoke inhalation. A firefighter was also hospitalized after a fall on the ice, Korea said.
Firefighters were able to knock down the blaze quickly, despite temperatures in the low 20s.
"we got lucky," Korea said.
The two apartments at 417 Stephenson St. were badly damaged; the downstairs unit was "basically wiped out," he said.
However, the two at 419 Stephenson St. only took in some smoke and the tenants could go back in Wednesday night as soon as the fire marshal allowed them, according to Korea. He wasn’t sure how many occupants were in the upstairs unit at 417 Stephenson St., but said at least one family was displaced.
The cause of the fire, which started in the rear of the vacant apartment, is being investigated.
Korea said at least 100 firefighters arrived to battle the blaze, which was a reason it was contained so quickly.
