Good Samaritan comes to aid of family in burning Howland home

HOWLAND — A family of nine escaped an early morning fire in their North Road home Sunday without injury, thanks in part to the efforts of an unknown good Samaritan.

According to township firefighters, the family at 2080 North Road was awakened just before 6 a.m. by a loud knock at the door. The person on the other side of the door informed the family that there was smoke and fire shooting from the roof of the home.

Seven children under the age of 14 and two adults made it out of the house.

Reports say a fire left burning in the fireplace overnight burned through the sill of the fireplace and into the attic of the home. The fire burned in the attic without the residents being aware. A fire alarm in the house activated after smoke reached the main part of the house from the attic.

The house sustained about $80,000 worth of damage to the structure and about $40,000 to things inside the house.

Several firefighters were struck by a collapsing ceiling, but no injuries were reported.