FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE HOUSE FIRE IN LANSFORD; COUPLE DISPLACED

A couple and their two dogs are displaced following a fast-moving fire that destroyed their neighbor’s home along West Snyder Avenue in Lansford today (Wednesday, May 21, 2014). Emergency personnel were called around 1:30 AM to 336 West Snyder Avenue for a working structure fire after neighbors called 911. Jimmy Gulla, of 338 West Snyder Avenue, said he was only 20 minutes after arriving from work when he heard glass breaking and looked outside to see the flames and called 911. His wife Dorothy said, “All I could see was a bright orange glow outside my bedroom window.” The two properties are only about three feet apart.
Upon arriving at scene, Lansford and Coaldale Police immediately started knocking on doors. After knocking on Gulla’s home, Jimmy and his wife Dorothy Gulla told police that no one has lived in 336 West Snyder Avenue since February, adding that people had recently purchased the property.
Prior to the arrival of the firefighters, neighbors said that Jimmy Gulla and Lansford Patrolman Josh Tom could be seen using garden hoses to slow down the fire and prevent it from spreading to the Gulla’s home.
While responding, John Reinbold, a paramedic with the Lehighton Ambulance, said he could see the orange glow as far as Summit Hill.
Firefighters noted an issue with the hydrant at the top of West Snyder Avenue. Firefighters ended up using a pipe wrench brought over by nearby resident Rosemarie Cannon.
Personnel remained on scene for about 4 hours to ensure they extinguished any hot spots.
On scene were fire companies from Lansford, Coaldale, Summit Hill, Nesquehoning, Tamaqua and Jim Thorpe. Also on scene were Tamaqua Rescue Squad, Carbon County Emergency Management Agency, Lansford Police, Coaldale Police, Lehighton Ambulance, and others. Mahoning Valley served as rehab unit for all the responders on scene.
Coaldale, Lansford and Summit Hill Fire Police redirected traffic around the scene for the duration.
336 West Snyder Avenue suffered severe damage to most of the home. 338 West Snyder Avenue suffered substantial damage to the outside, top floor and other areas of the home. The Gulla’s said they and their two dogs are staying with family.
There were no injuries noted. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
The Tamaqua Volunteers community initiative group and Tamaqua Salvation Army responded and distributed cold refreshments to all the responders still on scene hours later. Turkey Hill in Lansford also helped by donating an unlimited supply of hot coffee to the volunteer group to distribute to all the responders on scene.
“This could have been much worse if Jimmy would have went to bed a few minutes earlier,” said neighbor Jeff Montgomery, who lives directly across from the affected properties.