SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Several people were displaced, and three firefighters were injured after a Scranton fire Sunday night.
It was a frantic scene on Scranton's south side. Fire shot through a business and row homes at Pittston Avenue and Orchard Street.
Crews were called just before 6:00 p.m. to the 300 block of Pittston Avenue in Scranton for a reported house fire.
Scranton Fire Chief John Judge told 28/22 News the fire impacted three homes, causing about 20 people have be displaced.
Fire Chief Judge stated that three firefighters while battling the blaze. Two of the firefighters were sent to the hospital while one refused treatment.
"At this time, two firefighters have been transported for different injuries, and a third one has an injury, and he'll be relieved from work for right now, but he won't be seeking medical attention at the hospital tonight," Fire Chief Judge added.
Fire Chief Judge says none of those injuries were life-threatening.
Witnesses to the fire said flames were shooting near the top of telephone poles when firefighters first arrived. Neighbors watched from across the scene, wondering if everyone made it out.
One man took to a roof and tried to kick his way into a second-story window, fearing one of his family members was inside, before police stopped him.
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It was only part of the challenge firefighters faced.
"When the first crew arrived on scene, they encountered heavy flame and fire throughout a couple of the structures you see behind us, 301, 303, and 305 Pittston Avenue, and one of the properties that's connected in the 500 block of Orchard Street," Fire Chief Judge said.
A woman whose parents were directly impacted says they think they know what started the fire.
"From what my Dad said, the guy was using a blow torch to fix his car, and my Dad asked him not to do it, and his car caught fire, blew up, and then caught my parents' and then his house on fire," Jessica Kujawski from Scranton told 28/22 News.
Nearby, the Red Cross worked with the fire victims chased from their homes.
While residents are trying to manage the aftershocks of something like this, they are grateful it wasn't worse.
"As long as they're okay, that's all I care about. All that's replaceable, they're not," Kujawski added.
As of 10:30 p.m. Sunday, the 300 block of Pittston Avenue is still closed while crews continue working.
