Fire hits Monongahela duplex

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

When the smoke finally cleared after more than five hours, a duplex and a house were damaged and three families were displaced by a fire Saturday in Monongahela.

According to Monongahela Volunteer Fire Chief Aaron Leezer, a call came in for a fire at 526 Park Ave. at 10:24 a.m. Saturday on the left side of the duplex. 

On one side of the duplex was a family with five children; the other side housed a family with a 5-year-old boy.  

Leezer said heavy fire in the duplex caused the adjacent house at 528 Park Ave., where one person lived, to catch fire as well. He is unsure if that home was a total loss because fire crews worked quickly to save the building. 

The belongings of the families who lived in the duplex are a total loss, Leezer said. The cause of the fire is still under investigation and the ultimate condition of the duplex remains uncertain. 

Leezer said there were no injuries to any of the residents or firefighters from the eight volunteer fire departments that responded to the scene.

All residents got out of the houses safely, Leezer said, adding that a father was home with five children on the left side of the duplex where the fire started and made sure everyone got out.

Cassandra Price, the mother of the children on the left side of the duplex, set up a GoFundMe account for the father of her children and is seeking donations of clothing and household items as they look for a new home.

According to Price, the father wears size 2XL-3XL tall shirts, 38×42-44 pants, XL boxers and size 11 shoes. He’ll also need deodorant, shampoo, razors and other supplies.

One little girl will need size 3T and 4T clothes, a winter coat and size 8 toddler shoes. She also needs socks and underwear.

A little boy will need small 4/5 clothing and size 9 toddler shoes, along with socks and underwear.

One girl will need size 14-16 clothing, but XL or 2XL in shirts. She wears size 9-10 women’s shoes and she’ll need socks and underwear.

Another girl will need 14-16 in clothing and size 8 women’s shoes. She’ll need socks and underwear, too. 

Another boy will need size 16-18 pants and 2XL in shirts, adult medium boxers and socks. He wears a size 9 men’s shoe.

They all need winter coats in addition to toiletries.

The family will also need household items as they look for a new home.  

Visit www.gofundme.com/f/house-fire-victims-of-mon-city for more information.

Merissa Hernandez, who lived on the other side of the duplex with her 5-year-old son, also made a GoFundMe page for her family. Hernandez is looking for help finding a new place to live and is mainly concerned with finding clothes and toys for her little boy.

Visit Hernandez’ GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/f/23uubgy3mo.

Donated items can be dropped off for either family at Sparkles by Shell on Main Street in Monongahela starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday. 

Honey Bee Bakery on Dry Run Road in Monongahela is setting up a collection for the fire victims and plans to donate 50% of its sales from this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 

The temperatures were extreme Saturday and there were cooling stations set up at the scene for firefighters, Leezer said, in addition to several neighbors who brought the firefighters water and sandwiches. 

Due to the heat, Leezer called in extra manpower, and firefighters from Carroll Township, New Eagle, Valley Inn, Bentleyville, Gallatin Sunnyside, Finleyville and Fallowfield volunteer fire departments responded to the scene. Elrama Volunteer Fire Co. provided standby coverage at the New Eagle Volunteer Fire Department station. 

Tri- Community Ambulance, Monongahela City Police Department, the State Police Fire Marshal’s Division and the Red Cross also assisted at the scene.

“It was a tough fire, we were battling it the whole time we were there,” Leezer said. “We stayed longer to be sure it was taken care of. We flowed some extra water to be sure we had the hot spots out.” 

When the firefighters returned to the station, they had a surprise waiting for them.

“HogFathers made sure everyone ate when we got back to the station,” Leezer said, thanking the city business for providing the meal after the long day.