Picking up the pieces

ASHLAND - A day after the fire that destroyed about a half-block of buildings in Ashland, residents took time to clean up debris, close up properties and count up the costs.

Eight people were displaced in the fire that began just after 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Ashland Fire Chief Phillip Groody said Thursday that the fire is believed to have started with an electric space heater inside the home of Robert and Virginia O'Donnell, 1322 W. Centre St., before spreading to buildings on both sides of the home.

"That's the way the investigation is leaning right now," the chief said.

He said a final determination has not been made by state police fire marshal Trooper John F. Burns of the Frackville station.

Burns said he had planned to interview Robert O'Donnell Thursday at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, where the man had been flown for treatment of burns suffered in the blaze. However, the interview was not possible due to O'Donnell's condition.

O'Donnell and his son, Shawn, were rescued from the building by neighbor Joseph Jordan, 1310 W. Centre St., who was inside his home when the fire broke out. Jordan, a sergeant first class with the Pennsylvania National Guard, ran through the bar area of the Drunken Monkey Bar and Grill at 1312-14 W. Centre St. and pulled Robert O'Donnell from his burning home.

"He was pretty burned up," Jordan said.

After rescuing the man from the ground floor, Jordan said he worked his way to the second floor of the home to help the man's son, Shawn O'Donnell, out of the burning building.

A hospital spokesperson said the elder O'Donnell remains in critical condition in the burn unit of the Lehigh Valley trauma center.

Groody said the interview with O'Donnell is important to determine exactly what happened inside the home in the minutes leading up to the fire.

"Until he talks to him (O'Donnell), we can't confirm it," Groody said.

Burns was not available for comment Thursday night.

Plywood, police tape

Meanwhile, borough employees and workers from a private company cleared the area Thursday, sweeping and shoveling debris from sidewalks and porches. They also sealed buildings with plywood.

"We're trying to secure the buildings so no none gets inside," said Borough Manager Thomas Joyce.

Joyce later checked the back of the buildings facing Middle Street to see what needed to be done to secure them.

Tim Hale, executive director of the Schuylkill County Housing Authority, visited the scene and spoke with Joyce about helping fire victims.

"We're checking the situation here and we'll try to give them (fire victims) preferences any way we can," Hale said. "We'll certainly try to help the displaced families, take their applications and expedite them quickly, if at all possible."

Also on the scene Thursday was borough police Chief Adam J. Bernodin Jr., who expressed concern over the condition of some of the fire-damaged properties.

"Our main concern right now is right up above here," said Bernodin, pointing to a top section of one building that is leaning. "We don't know if that could go at any time, especially with high winds ... We're going to keep the caution tape up so no one can walk in this area and address it as fast as we can."

Keith Reinoehl - who lives at 1308 W. Centre St. with his wife, Charlene, and sons, Seth, 4, and Cole, 1 - was inside the home he rents-to-own, checking on water damage. His residence was the last home to the east of the O'Donnell property that was directly affected by the blaze.

"They (firefighters) had to cut out Joe's (Jordan, 1310 Centre St.) roof and part of mine, so I have water damage in my attic and smoke damage through the house," said Reinoehl.

Reinoehl was home when the fire started.

"I worked a 12-hour shift the night before and I heard a commotion and came outside and saw when the fire first started," said Reinoehl. "I went to see if anyone was inside and couldn't get anywhere near close to the front."

Reinoehl said his family is staying at his mother's home until things get settled.

'If it wasn't for them'

At The Drunken Monkey Bar and Grill, 1312 W. Centre St., an owner, employees and friends were inside removing items from the bar area.

"Our customers are coming in to help us and I think that is one of the best things ever," said Susan Moore, who has owned the business with her husband, Dirk, and parents, Lois and Charles Martines, since 2004.

Water covered the bar and floor, and without electricity, the room was dark. The building was extensively damaged on the upper floors.

Susan Moore was in her apartment when the fire started. She said her bartender, Patty Baleno, and patrons noticed the fire and called 911.

"Patty and a couple of the customers actually noticed it. They saw the flames reflected in the doors of the cooler. If it wasn't for them, who knows how much longer it would have been burning before someone else saw it."

About that time, Moore said she heard Baleno outside and looked out the window.

"I saw Patty outside on the phone frantic. I ran down to see what was happening, if someone was hurt," said Moore. "That's when I saw my neighbor (Jordan) coming through the bar saying there was a fire and ran over to help. I ran upstairs to get my husband and our pets and ran out the door. We locked up and stayed outside and watched it burn. There was nothing else we could do. We're all shocked how far it (the fire) did go."

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