Fire destroys New Castle home, family escapes uninjured

Fire destroys New Castle home, family escapes uninjured

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — The Darrell and Lisa Frazier family lost nearly all of their possessions in a fire that gutted the interior of their home at 2309 S. Jefferson Ave., in South New Castle Borough.

Fire Chief Kelly Bartley said the couple’s teenage daughter was home alone and watching television in the living room when she heard some popping sounds coming from the kitchen around 8:30 a.m. today.

She went to investigate, saw flames and ran out the door, Bartley said.

He believes a neighbor phoned in the alarm.

The interior of the two-story frame house was gutted, although the exterior walls and roof remained standing, Bartley said, calling the house a total loss. A loss estimate wasn’t immediately available. There were no injuries.

A state fire marshal determined the blaze started around the stove, and the fire was accidental, Bartley said.

Firefighters were able to keep the flames away from houses located only about 10 feet away on either side of the Frazier home, although one house did suffer a small amount of discoloration to some of its aluminum siding, Bartley said.

The Fraziers have insurance on the property and were being assisted by the American Red Cross, he said.

Crews from Taylor, Shenango, Union, Neshannock and Mahoning townships assisted at the scene.