Crime & Safety
SECOND UPDATE: Short in Electrical Box Caused House Fire in Valencia
No injuries reported; house is total loss.
No injuries were reported Sunday night at a house fire in Valencia, but the home is a total loss, according to fire officials.
Fire Chief Jim Kelly of the said crews took about a half hour to extinguish the fire at the Allegheny Avenue home in the Valencia area of Richland Township.
As of 10:35 p.m., scanner reports indicated that the fire was out.
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The family was home at the time, Kelly said.
Richland Township Fire Marshal Guy Pedicone, who investigated the cause of the fire with the Allegheny County Fire Marshal's Office, said an electrical box in the rear of the house shorted out and that is what caused the fire.
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He confirmed that the home is a total loss and that the family lost everything. Pedicone said the Red Cross is working with the family.
In addition to Richland, volunteer fire departments from Adams Area, North Hampton, and West Deer responded, said Kelly.
The home is just south of the Butler County line.
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