One woman reported dead in Trevorton fire; sister critical in Lehigh Valley Burn Center

staff writerS

TREVORTON — Fire claimed the life an elderly woman here Friday and her sister was taken to Lehigh Valley Medical Center for treatment of burns, officials said.

The two women were victims of a fire that broke out in their home at 249 W. Shamokin St. at about 3 p.m. The large home at the corner of West Market and Third streets was destroyed.

State Police Fire Marshal Normal Fedder confirmed at the scene at about 10:30 p.m. that a body was found in the kitchen area. He would not release the name, pending notification of next of kin.

Neighbors and others from Trevorton said the home was owned by Pat Miller, who several people said was the person taken to Lehigh Valley, near Allentown. A spokesman reported her in critical condition at 11:30 p.m. Friday.

Miller is well known in the community, including through her role as caretaker of St. Patrick Catholic Church, just a block west of her home, and as former operator of Miller’s Bakery, a business she ran from her home.

Miller’s sister was living at the home and being cared for by Miller, according to neighbors and the Rev. Adrian Gallagher, pastor at St. Patrick.

Fedder said the deceased was someone who had limited mobility, and

noted there had been a significant collapse and that a lot of material had to be moved to reach the victim.

Fedder, firefighters and James R. Gotlob, a deputy Northumberland County coroner, were at the scene until at least 11 p.m. Friday. Fedder said he will continue his investigation beginning Monday.

He said the fire is not considered suspicious. It likely started somewhere in the interior, he said, possibly in the kitchen area.

Original emergency communication reports said two people were trapped.

Deputy Chief Ed Reed of the Trevorton Fire Company said one person was pulled from the building and taken to a hospital.

The fire ravaged the three-story home and two-story garage. The property is located two doors west of the Bait, Barrels and Bows Sporting Goods store at 229 W. Shamokin St.

No visible damage could be seen on the house directly adjacent to the fire scene.

Reaching five alarms, the fire brought more than 100 firefighters from at least seven municipalities in two counties.

At 3:30 p.m., rescue personnel worked frantically to control the flames as thick smoke poured from the windows and doors. Firefighters would eventually battle the blaze from all sides of the building, coming in through the snow-covered backyard, from a neighbor’s porch and from above in the Shamokin Fire Company ladder truck. At 4 p.m., the "all-out" alarm was sounded, meaning it was too dangerous for any fire fighters to remain within the building.

The fire was brought under control at approximately 6:30 p.m., although the ladder truck was still spraying water at pockets of fire on the roof and firefighters were still dousing hot spots late Friday night.

Several community members who saw the flames jumped into action as soon as they approached the scene. They included Tim Klouser and Preston Lesher.

The men, who live just west of the Miller home on opposite sides of the street, ran to a side door at the lower-level of the garage along Third Street and attempted to enter the house, but the flames and smoke stopped them.

"We were yelling, but nothing," said Lesher, a former Trevorton firefighter.

With temperatures below freezing, Klouser offered cinders and ashes from his coal-burning stove to help provide grip on the slick street. Klouser, Lesher and other men were seen shoveling the cinders onto the streets and placing more in buckets for use elsewhere around the scene.

Firefighters were reportedly falling on some of the ice buildup, and icicles quickly built up on power lines and metal banisters around the scene.

Keith Troutman, an employee of Angie’s Market, was another man who attempted to rush inside and find the sisters.

"It’s a life," said Troutman about why he decided to risk his own life. "I know her, (but) I don’t care if I know the lady or not, it’s a life."

Troutman said he knew Pat, but not her sister.

"I deal with Pat all the time," he said, explaining that she often came in for coffee or other items at the store.

"She’s a good person," he said. "A really nice lady."

Klouser agreed, although he had little interaction with either sister.

"I gave a friendly wave, a hello and a goodbye," he said.

Miller opened and locked the doors at St. Patrick Church every day, Gallagher said. Earlier Friday evening, knowing only rumors at that point, he reserve further comment about the situation.

Troutman and Angela Wilkinson from Angie’s Market had quickly set up a table where firefighters could have coffee, hot dogs, orange juice, soda or bottled water at no cost.

"We always do this when anything like this happens," said Troutman. "Without these people here, we have no reason to be where we are. That’s what’s great about a small community."

Later in the evening, representatives from the Schuylkill-Lower Northumberland Chapter of the American Red Cross had arrived from Pottsville, bringing with them five gallons of coffee from the Sheetz in the Schuylkill County city.

Also, a Northumberland County transportation bus was on scene Friday evening to allow firefighters and others a chance to come aboard and warm up.

Rescue personnel identified at the scene included Trevorton Fire Company, Lower Augusta Volunteer Fire Department, Stonington Fire Company, Shamokin Fire Department, Coal Township Rescue Squad, AREA Services, Maine Fire Company, East Cameron Township Fire Department, Pillow Fire Department and state police from Stonington.