Fire destroys Donora home

By Max Robinette

mrobinette@yourmvi.com

A fire razed the home of a mother and two children in Donora early Sunday morning.

Donora police Chief Neal Rands said a call came in around 2 a.m. for a fire at a home on the 500 block of Castner Avenue. 

Rands said when responders arrived, flames had fully engulfed the front end of the home.

“The residents had been cooking a brisket on the front porch for the holiday weekend,” Rands said. “It got the porch on fire and that quickly spread to the rest of the house.”

Rands said the home was empty during the incident and no one was hurt. He added that the fire devastated the structure.

“The house was uninsured by the landlord,” he said. “So it’ll likely be demolished. Two neighboring houses also sustained some damage.”

Resident Jasmen Gallmore was at a relative’s house nearby when the fire broke out. She it was surreal seeing her home in flames.

“My kids were out for the weekend and I was across the street at their grandmother’s house cooking for the weekend,” Gallmore said. “I heard a neighbor shout something about a fire so I went down to the porch and looked out and didn’t see anything. Then I turned to the left and saw my porch on fire. 

“That night, it was almost like I couldn’t believe it happened. But when I woke up the next morning, I drove my car past it in the back alley. I had to pull over and cry. ‘Everything is gone, I don’t know what we’ll do,’ I thought.”

With the house a total loss, Gallmore said the family lost everything in it, from day-to-day items to valuable personal belongings.

“We lived there for 14 years,” she said. “It’s the only house my kids have known. We lost our car, clothes, furniture — we have absolutely nothing. When I say all we have is the clothes on our back, that is all we have. I lost pictures of my parents, family heirlooms I’ll never be able to give to my kids. Things we’ll never get back. 

“My daughter asked me, ‘Why do these things happen? Why did it happen to us?’ And I’m heartbroken about it, too. But I told her, ‘Just thank God that we weren’t there. We’ll get everything back. It’ll just take time.’”

Gallmore is looking for a hotel for her and her children to stay while they sort through the aftermath of the tragedy.

Gallmore’s sister, Bee White, set up a GoFundMe page for the family, hoping Donora and other Mon Valley communities can support them. 

The page is available by searching “My sister Jasmen Gallmore rebuild” on GoFundMe.com or going to https://gofund.me/51b1633f.

Gallmore said people can also send checks to 525 Castner Ave., Donora, Pa. 15033.

Gallmore thanked everyone who has supported them so far, including the Ringgold Youth Athletic Association and the Donora Youth Baseball program.

“I would really like to thank everyone who has reached out,” Gallmore. “You don’t know how much we appreciate it. I don’t know what we’d do if we had to do this completely alone. We really appreciate the support.”

Responding fire departments included Donora, Bentleyville and Carroll Township. Donora police and Rostraver West Newton EMS were also on scene.