House in Monessen damaged by fire

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

A Monessen couple and their dogs have been displaced from their home after a structure fire early Friday.

Monessen Municipal Fire Chief Delmar Hepple said crews were called to the 500 block of Chestnut Street around 3:23 a.m.

Police arrived on scene almost immediately and helped a man, woman and their dog out of the residence as crews began to work to extinguish the blaze. 

“The call came in as a bedroom fire and quickly turned into a house fire,” Hepple said. “The first crews on scene were very aggressive on the attack or it could have been much worse.”

The fire was contained to the bedroom, but other areas of the home sustained water and smoke damage.

The residents were not identified, but the man suffered a dog bite as he tried to get the animal to leave the yard. The woman was transported to an area hospital for treatment of suspected smoke inhalation. 

Hepple said the residents should be able to return to the home after repairs are made.

“We are ruling it accidental at this time, and should be salvageable,” he said. “It is going to take some time and some money, but I don’t think it will have to come down.”

The Salvation Army in Monessen is taking donations for the couple. Capt. Sue Thwaite said they are in need of women’s clothing in sizes 1X and 2X, along with men’s jeans in size 32 and medium T-shirts. 

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