A family of four was displaced by a Sunday afternoon blaze on Kelker Street in Harrisburg’s Uptown neighborhood, according to local fire Chief Brian Enterline.
Despite some complications due to Sunday’s sweltering heat, firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze on the 600 block of Kelker Street in only about 10 minutes, he said.
Four people lived in the three-story home, and all of them were able to evacuate safely, Enterline said. A dog and bird that live in the home also were removed safely, he said.
Firefighters were called about 4:36 p.m. to the home, where it was reported that a fire had started in a second-floor bedroom, Enterline said.
“It burnt out the entire bedroom,” Enterline said, adding that the home suffered fire damage on its second floor and some water damage on its first.
Enterline described the damage as “100 percent reparable” but explained that the home’s occupants would not be able to stay the night inside.
The American Red Cross is assisting the family, he said.
On Sunday, high temperatures were expected to reach 95 degrees. High temperatures can be a risk to firefighters, who must wear thick, heavy gear while battling flames.
At Kelker Street, firefighters worked in short shifts and drank lots of water to keep hydrated and cool, Enterline said.
“We’re used to hot weather,” Enterline said. “This is Pennsylvania.”
No firefighters were injured while working to extinguish the flames, he said.