4 people displaced after fire that nearly destroyed College Township house

Four people are displaced after a fire nearly destroyed a house in College Township Thursday evening.

Multiple calls came in at about 6:15 p.m. reporting smoke and flames in the back of a house in the 900 block of Oak Ridge Avenue, Jason Troup, fire chief at the Alpha Fire Company, said. State College Police Department were the first on scene and confirmed those reports.

Troup said it appears the fire started in the back of the house, possibly around a barbecue grill, but the fire marshal is investigating. Flames could be seen through the roof and heavy smoke was in the area.

“(The fire) went into the eaves of the house and … got into the attic space, burned most of the attic space. So a lot of damage inside just from that, from us pulling, getting the ceiling down. The ceiling did collapse in the living room and kitchen area,” Troup said.

Four residents safely got out of the house and apartment rental. The American Red Cross is providing assistance.

According to Jonathan Walker, who was driving along Oak Ridge Avenue and stopped when he noticed smoke coming out of the house, a number of community members helped make sure everyone was out of the home. With other people approaching the house, Walker said he and another bystander walked around back where there was a basement door and made sure the two people inside knew about the fire.

“I didn’t see how the homeowners got out, but I was glad that some concerned folks stopped and checked,” Walker wrote in an email.

Troup said the house itself is “pretty close to a total loss,” though they were able to salvage a lot of things inside.

As of around 8 p.m. Thursday, crews were still inside working to put out “hot spots” in the attic space above the garage and around the chimney.

“They’re also covering some belongings and moving valuables around, trying to get them out of areas and bring them out of the house so they don’t get damaged,” Troup said.

Oak Ridge Avenue was closed while crews worked at the scene.

Alpha was assisted at the scene by Centre LifeLink, which provided some rehab for the firefighters, Boalsburg Fire Company and Undine Fire Company, Troup said. Truck 33 from Blair County and an engine from Bellefonte provided coverage while Alpha responded, he said.

Visuals editor Abby Drey contributed to this report.