Overview
- Officials ruled the Dec. 11 fire an accident after determining it started in a backyard fire pit that ignited nearby combustibles and spread to the house.
- Penndel Police Officer Sean Peck and neighbor Justin Ritorto alerted residents and helped evacuate eight people before conditions worsened.
- Fire crews reported hoarding inside the home, forcing an exterior attack and the use of heavy equipment to tear down unsafe sections.
- Windy weather and freezing runoff complicated the response and prompted local warnings about hazardous travel and possible school bus delays.
- No injuries were reported, the home sustained catastrophic damage, the family is displaced, and a community GoFundMe is collecting assistance.