A home in Blair County is being called a “Total Loss” after a fire destroyed it Friday evening. Blair County crews were called around 5:15 to the home in Frankstown Township. Three people were inside the home at the time of the fire, but were thankfully able to get out by the time Firefighters arrived.
Dennis Estep, Fire Chief of the Geeseytown Community Fire Company saying: “When we first got here, there was fire starting to come through the back side of the house. The garage had fire in it, and smoke was pushing out of the second floor on all 3 sides of the house – the back side, the side of the garage, and the front side. The house was a total loss.”
Two Firefighters received minor heat-related injuries, but were treated at the scene. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
With every terrible tragedy like this one, the opportunity is created for good people out there to help. And this family impacted by the fire has been given a life-line to recovery. Even in the midst of tragedy, a community shines brightest. Tom Gravine, Owner of Redline Speed Shine saying: “It’s just an unbelievable tragedy, um, you know, something that you don’t ever anticipate or plan for.”
The Wyatt family managed to escape their home, but the home did not survive. Don Wyatt works for Redline Speed Shine in Centre County, and the Owner says this couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Gravine adding: “You know, Don is, we call him, we refer to him as ‘Pap’…lovingly, he’s the oldest member of our team and, always has a joke and, always in a good mood, just can’t believe that something like this happened.”
The Gravine family have risen to the occasion, raising money to help the family recover. Gravine adding: “So we started a Gofundme page, last night (Friday) at about 6:45-7 o’clock I think we put it up and went live with it…we’ve raised almost, about $10,000 in less than 24 hours.”
Because even in the darkest times, Gravine says the support can mean the world. Gravine saying: “Just so blessed and, and can’t believe the support from the community…how everybody has worked together and everything…you know, the team that we have here at RedLine, they’ve posted on all of their social media…pages.”
A State Police Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the blaze.
