Burned house belongs to humanitarian's kin

A dog died in the blaze, and firefighters suffered in near-90-degree heat.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- The daughter of a township woman who builds houses for disaster victims around the world is now homeless herself.
Firefighters were called to the blaze at the small beige house at Forest Hill and Elmwood drives late Wednesday morning. Fire Chief Andy Frost said a cause hasn't been determined, but it appears to be electrical.
The house is owned by Shannon Royea, a daughter of Kathleen Price, founder and director of Mission of Love, a township-based organization that provides disaster relief and humanitarian aid. Most recently, the group of volunteers traveled to Jean Lafitte, La., and built houses for those left homeless by Hurricane Katrina.
Other trips have included relief missions to Indian reservations and to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.
"That's why we have to help other people," Price said. "You never know when it could happen to you or someone you love."
Price said her daughter and young grandson will stay with family. No one was home when the fire broke out, but a family dog perished. Frost said the fire started in a front bedroom.
Frost said temperatures approaching 90 degrees Wednesday made the task difficult for firefighters."Look at them," he said as firefighters emerged from the house red-faced and weary-looking. "We're trying to get them rehydrated."
After dousing the flames, firefighters cooled one another with the stream of water from the fire hoses.
Crews from all four stations, the two full-time stations on state Route 46 and Mahoning Avenue and the two outlying stations on Raccoon and Turner Roads that are manned part time, responded to the fire that took about a half-hour to get under control.
"It was fully engulfed when we got here, and they knocked it down," the chief said. "They did a great job."