MERCER COUNTY Two firefighters injured during morning house fire

By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Two city firefighters were injured when a porch roof collapsed on them as they fought a house fire on Oakland Avenue this morning.
Capt. Michael Donato and firefighter Kevin McMahon weren't seriously hurt and remained on the scene after being treated by an ambulance crew.
Fire Chief Arthur Scarmack said both later went to Sharon Regional Health System for examination after the blaze was extinguished.
The fire of undetermined origin destroyed one house and damaged a second just 10 feet away before firefighters could control the blaze. Brookfield Township firefighters assisted at the scene.
The fire was discovered by a neighbor just before 5 a.m. at the house at 438 N. Oakland Ave., occupied by Amy Runyan and four children, police said.
The Runyans hadn't spent the night in the home, however. They are in the process of moving and spent the night in a relative's home next to their Oakland Avenue residence, police said.
The house was fully engulfed in flames, with fire coming out of the windows, when the first police officer reached the scene less than a minute after the initial call to 911.
Scarmack said a state police fire marshal was called in to help find the cause, but the damage was so extensive that the cause was listed as undetermined. The two-story house completely collapsed.
The blaze spread to the two-story home of Christopher Grlica at 430 N. Oakland Ave., just 10 feet away.
Firefighters were able to save that house, but it did suffer some fire and smoke damage.
Police said they had to restrain Grlica when he tried to get back into the house to recover some items because he said he had no insurance. They said he struggled with officers and had to be handcuffed and hit with a stun gun before he was subdued and placed in a cruiser. He was later released but faces a disorderly conduct charge, police said.
A Brookfield firetruck arriving at the scene hit Grlica's vehicle parked in front of his house, police said.