Fire displaces Monessen family

By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
After a fire destroyed a Monessen home Saturday morning, a family of eight is now starting over with help from the Mon Valley community.
Municipal Fire Chief Chris Rhome said the call came in at 10:06 a.m. but Monessen Police Officer Chris Gray was already at the scene, on the corner of Ninth Street and Summit Avenue.
Rhome said Gray made sure everyone – two adult females and five young children – were out of the brick structure and reached out to agencies to aid the displaced family.
The family was out of the home before first responders arrived.
Firefighters pulled up moments later to a fully engulfed fire, with flames and heavy smoke shooting out of windows on the second floor.
The blaze started in an upstairs bedroom, where children were allegedly playing with matches, Rhome said.
As the flames grew, they quickly spread into the attic and through the roof of the structure before firefighters were able to knock it down.
The first floor was also heavily damaged by smoke and water, Rhome added.
Three adult women and five children live in the home, but only seven people in the Majors family were home when fire broke out.
Though it was quickly extinguished, the family lost everything except the clothes on their back and items that could be salvaged from the first floor.
“They seem to be doing alright,” Rhome said. “As good as they can be.”
Rhome said he told the family after the state fire marshal investigated the scene they could return to the home to retrieve items from the first floor, but discouraged attempting to salvage anything from the upstairs.
“They were mostly worried about photos and other personal mementos, but going to the second floor was too dangerous,” Rhome said. “Everything on the second floor was gone, they walked out of their with the clothes on their backs for the most part but at least everyone was OK.”
Monessen No. 1 and Hilltop were assisted on scene by Charleroi, Rostraver, Carroll, Belle Vernon, Lock 4, Donora and North Belle Vernon.
The scene was cleared by 12:30 p.m.
“As always our guys did a fantastic job,” Rhome said. “And Officer Gray was a tremendous help to not only myself and the state fire marshal but also to the family.”
The Red Cross paid for the family to stay in a hotel on Saturday and Sunday nights and the Salvation Army in Monessen helped with clothing, lunch and food.
Additionally, The Monessen Family Center will be collecting clothing and other donations for the Majors family.
A family friend, Nicole Armstrong, is also accepting donations.
The family is need of:
• Girl shoes, sizes, 2, 7, and 13.
• Girl clothes, sizes 5/6, 10/12 and 14/16
• Boys clothing, sizes 5/6 and 18/20.
• Boys shoes, sizes 10 1/2 and 11.
• Womens clothing, size 2X, 3X, or 24 (pants.)
• Womens shoes, size 7, 8 and 9.
• All household items including towels, blankets, furniture and appliances.
Donations can be dropped off at The Monessen Family Center Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by calling 724-684-4370.
Armstrong can be reached at 724-797-2814.
The family has secured a storage unit to keep donated items.