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.
n E-mail comments to kblackeldge@dailyitem.com
News
Related Photos
-
Karen Blackledge/The Daily Item
-
Karen Blackledge
-
Karen Blackledge
Discussion
Dad, son hurt as home burns in Montour County
Three pets rescued from mobile home blaze
- News
-
-
Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs
Superintendent Mark DiRocco told the Lewisburg school board Thursday night that a proposed block grant system of school budget funding will run the district short of cash that will have to be made up through personnel and program cuts.
-
Mom: Keller's response left her cold
Like many people, Elise Nicol is concerned about Marcellus Shale and the industry's effects on Pennsylvania's environment. The Lewisburg mother of two cares about it enough that she sent an email to state Rep. Fred Keller, R-85 of Kreamer, asking him to oppose House Bill 1950, which passed the General Assembly on Wednesday.
-
Point Township authority concerned by sewer plant violations
Point Township Sewer Authority members Thursday night expressed concerns about a Feb. 3 letter sent to the Northumberland Sewer Authority by the state's Department of Environmental Protection saying that the borough authority has violated the Clean Streams Act.
-
Persing truck fee idea stalls
While Pennsylvania has passed legislation allowing communities to collect impact fees in 35 counties, Northumberland County is not one of them, and business leaders and lawmakers do not think Sunbury Mayor David Persing's plan to try to do his own version of an impact fee will pass muster.
-
Barber draws a crowd
The talk can be spirited at times, ranging from hunting to sports to home repairs. "You hear all kinds of stories," Gene Koehler, of Riverside, said Thursday as he waited for a haircut at The Masters barbershop, 209 Mill St.
-
State board approves table games at Valley Forge casino
VALLEY FORGE — A casino resort scheduled to open this spring in the Philadelphia suburb of Valley Forge has been approved for table games.
-
Doctors telling more adults: Get out and exercise
ATLANTA — A new study shows more and more U.S. adults are being told by their doctor to get off their duffs and exercise. A government survey found nearly 33 percent of adults who saw a doctor in the previous year said they were told to exercise. That was up from about 23 percent in 2000.
-
Former Northumberland County judge and three others die in Florida crash
EVERGLADES CITY, Fla. -- A former Northumberland County judge was one of four people killed Wednesday afternoon when their car collided with a van at an intersection, according to the Naples News. The victims were identified as James J. Rosini, 66, William J. Rosini, 68, Patricia C. Rosini, 65, all of Coal Township, Pa., and Deborah A. Korbich, 59, of Elysburg, Pa.
-
Warden demotes four bosses
SUNBURY -- Northumberland County Prison Warden Roy Johnson was able to trim about $135,000 in expenses by demoting four supervisors. He said Wednesday that he found a way to cut costs without laying off any staff. "I cut out 120 hours of supervisors' pay each week, but I need to fill the correction officer positions," Johnson said.
-
DJ pumps up audience
Every Tuesday evening, Richard Grogg can be found spinning tunes at possibly the most well-attended dance in Snyder County. A resident at the Selinsgrove Center since 1988, the 57-year-old said the thing he likes most about selecting and playing music is "making people happy." "Some people come up and ask for requests," he said.
-
Agency closes adult center
PENNS CREEK -- Union and Snyder County caregivers have had to look farther and wider for another program that can offer respite because the Agency on Aging can no longer afford to provide the service. The adult daily living center at the Penns Creek Adult Resource Center was a helpful program each week to about eight adults from the area dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia. But it closed Dec. 30.
-
New Berlin pushes to acquire school
NEW BERLIN -- The Borough Council sold the property where the New Berlin Elementary School is to the precursor of the Mifflinburg Area School District for $1 back in 1950. It was deeded to the district for construction of a school.
- More News Headlines
-
Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs
