DANVILLE -- An early afternoon fire Wednesday sent two people to the hospital and destroyed a home in a secluded area of Cooper Township, Montour County.
Three pets were saved during the blaze, which drew 50 firefighters from at least four different companies after being reported at 1:09 p.m.
Homeowner Steve Troutman II, 57, a retiree who moved to Montour County from Delaware five years ago, and his son, Steve III, were treated at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, and released.
The elder Troutman had been building a stone base around the mobile home, which sits along a dirt lane four miles off Tower Road.
The mobile home also had a large addition on the back, said Troutman's nephew, Skip Davis.
"He was so proud of that house," said Troutman's sister, Pauline Davis, of Catawissa. "It was really nice."
Troutman had decorated a stone wall lining the property with bowling balls. The walkway to the home also sported bowling balls.
Earlier in the day Troutman was patching the roof, said family friend James Moses, of Bald Top, near Danville.
Pauline Davis said she could see the fire's heavy black smoke from her home in Catawissa.
Added Moses: "You could see the smoke all the way from Danville."
Troutman was able to rescue his three dogs -- a red Dachshund and two mixed breeds -- and put them in vehicles. His grandson, Isaac Troutman, was at the house at the time of the fire but was not injured.
A state police marshal will be called to investigate the blaze, Danville Fire Chief Mark Fry said. Troutman's brother, Norm Troutman, of Bald Top, said he believed the fire started in a wood stove.
Popping sounds heard during the fire may have been shotgun shells exploding.
"My brother was a hunter," Pauline Davis said. "He had guns and kept going back to get most of his guns out."
Troutman took early retirement because of an injury and had worked for General Motors in Wilmington, Del., his sister said. Their parents live in Bald Top.
Firefighters drew water for tankers from the nearest hydrants in the Peachtree development along Bloom Road, Fry said.
The tankers shuttling water back and forth and were hampered by "no place to turn around in an isolated location," said Fry, who estimated 50 firefighters responded from Danville, Mahoning Township, Riverside and Columbia County.
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Dad, son hurt as home burns in Montour County
Three pets rescued from mobile home blaze
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