New Year’s Day Fire Ravages Adams Township Home

A couple and their pets escaped unharmed after a fire ravaged their Adams Township home on New Year’s Day.

Adams Area Fire Chief Bill Hayes said crews were called to the home on Lakeland Drive at about noon Tuesday. When firefighters arrived on the scene there was heavy fire in the area of the home’s attached garage, he said.

“When we got here, it was going pretty good and it extended into the bedroom above it,” Hayes said.

The chief did not have a damage estimate for the home, which is uninhabitable. The homeowners are staying at a home in the area, Hayes said. The Red Cross also has been notified of the situation.

“The homeowners have told me they have housing in the local area,” he said.

Hayes said the fire appears accidental. The fire marshal is investigating as a standard procedure, he said. What caused the fire still is undetermined.

“There is nothing suspicious at this time,” Hayes said.

Neighbor Donna McGee said Bill and Susan Yanakos own the Lakeland Drive home.

McGee said she was taking her dogs for a walk when she saw the blaze at the Yanakos home. She quickly dialed 911.

“There were tons of flames shooting out of the windows,” she said.

McGee said the Yanakos own four rescue dogs and a cat. Hayes said all the animals escaped from the home unharmed.

The garage was heavily damaged by fire and Hayes said there is smoke and water damage throughout the home. The second floor of the house also partially collapsed, he said. At one point, firefighters used an aerial ladder truck to spray water on the roof above the garage to help knock out the flames.

Hayes said the fire was under control by about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday’s cold weather and snow did not impede firefighters in battling the flames, he said.

“The crews did a great job,” he said. “They got a good knock on fire. It went very smoothly.”

Volunteers from the Cranberry, Wexford, Harmony and Callery departments assisted Adams Area at the fire.