A Pottsville woman died in a house fire and a police officer suffered a first-degree burn Friday morning at 719 N. Centre St. in the city.
Joan Marie Wallace, 58, died in the fire, Deputy Coroner Katherine D. Schuck said. Schuck pronounced Wallace dead at 9:30 a.m.
Bill Dewald, assistant fire chief for the city, was in charge of the scene and said all seven fire companies from Pottsville responded to the fire. He said they were dispatched at 8:03 a.m. for a working structure fire with entrapment with heavy smoke showing from the front and fire from the rear upon arrival. Later, fire was visible from the front of the structure. Dewald said the fire was knocked down in about 15 minutes. Firefighters were still fighting hot spots later in the morning.
Dewald said there were oxygen canisters in the house that exploded. No firefighters were inside the building during the explosion, he said. Dewald did not return calls for additional information.
Three people lived in the house, according to Patty Daley, team captain of the American Red Cross Tri-County Chapter, which responded to the scene. Daniel Sarge, 79, the husband of Joan, and daughter, Mary Anne Sarge, 29, were residents. Both declined to comment at the scene. Neither were home at the time of the fire.
Mary Anne’s dog suffered burns during the fire.
Pottsville Police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky said Patrolman Michael Stank suffered a first-degree burn on his arm while at the scene and received treatment. The officer rescued the dog, which was near the open front door of 719 N. Centre St. at the time of the fire, Wojciechowsky said.
As of Friday, Dewald said he did not know the cause of the fire. A state police fire marshal, John Burns, from the Frackville station, will continue the investigation.
Wojciechowsky said Friday the cause of the fire was investigated by the Pottsville Bureau of Police along with a Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal and Pottsville fire personnel. He did not name the fire marshal.
“The results of this initial investigation showed the point of origin to be the first floor, middle room. No evidence of suspicious or criminal activity was uncovered at this point and the investigation is continuing,” Wojciechowsky said.
Daley said food, clothing and housing assistance were provided to Daniel and Mary Anne. Daley said the home was not insured. The Schuylkill County Online Parcel Locator lists the property owners as Daniel and Mary Anne Sarge.
The Red Cross also assisted Kristin Lecher, 46, of 721 N. Centre St.
Lecher said she was upstairs when she heard banging on the door. She said a firefighter yelled for her to get out of the building at about 8:15 a.m. The house at 721, as well as 717, sustained smoke and water damage, Daley said.
Joanne Underwood, 67, who lives at 711 N. Centre St. with five other relatives, said she was sleeping until one of her grandchildren woke her after police came to the door to warn them of the nearby fire.
Pottsville Assistant Fire Chief Jason Witmier said a call was placed from the 719 address to the Schuylkill County Communications Center. He did not know who called but said since Wallace was the only person home, she likely made the call.
Wallace’s body was removed from the scene at 10:41 a.m. Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III said a virtual autopsy was performed at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Simon Kramer Cancer Institute, New Philadelphia.
“The study revealed extensive thermal injuries as the likely cause of death. The investigation will also consist of toxicology studies and measurement of carbon monoxide levels in the blood before finalizing the death certificate. The study also revealed evidence of other significant medical problems, which could have been contributory,” Moylan said.
He said the toxicology studies are routine. The samples taken will be sent to NMS Laboratory, Willow Grove. Results of those could take a few weeks.
Witmier said Pottsville police were first on the scene. The Schuylkill Haven Rapid Intervention Team and Schuylkill EMS also responded to the fire.
“The police made every effort they could to get into the building,” Witmier said.
He did not have a damage estimate but said 719 is heavily damaged.
“The first floor is completely gutted. The second floor has pretty heavy heat and smoke damage,” Witmier said.
He did not see any working smoke detectors in the building.
“Smoke detectors are proven to save lives,” he said. “It’s a tough thing when you lose a life in a fire.”
The Pottsville Fire Department, along with other organizations, is hosting Public Safety Night Out from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the lower level of the Martz Hall parking lot in Pottsville. Smoke detectors will be given away at the event, and family friendly activities will be held.
The event began in response to a devastating house fire on Mother’s Day 2013 at 235 Pierce St., Pottsville. The fire claimed the lives of four children and two adults — Eric Brown, 31; Joy Brown, 8; Jeremiah Brown 7; Emily Brown, 3; Elijah Brown, 2; and Kristina Thomas, 23. Kelly Brown, mother of the four children, wife of Eric and sister of Kristina, was not at home at the time of the fire. The home did not have smoke detectors.