Published: September 30, 2008 12:10 am      

Nicktown blaze leaves home a total loss

NICKTOWN — A Barr Township woman is homeless after fire destroyed her two-story wood-frame home on the 100 block of Trout Road located between the villages of Marsteller and Nicktown early Monday morning.

Volunteers from Nicktown, Hope and Spangler fire companies were called to the rural home of Nancy Caroll shortly before 2:30 a.m.

Upon arrival on scene, firefighters found the home engulfed and the roof completely fallen in. Nicktown fire Chief Frank Dumm said the structure is a total loss.

“There was very little left of the structure when we got on scene,” Dumm said. “It likely burned awhile before it was noticed.”

Ebensburg-based state police fire Marshal Joe Huber was called to investigate the cause of the fire, and was on the scene around noon on Monday, Dumm said. Huber ruled the cause as undetermined. Dumm said the initial call likely was reported to Cambria County’s department of emergency services from a passer-by driving to work.

“I’m assuming the person who called it in was on Route 553,” Dumm said.

“The call came in saying the fire was located between Goodridge Road and Verchick Lane. They probably just saw the orange glow in the sky.”

Dumm said the rural area is devoid of close neighbors, and the closest to Carroll’s home did not know the home had caught fire.

“Neighbors didn’t see anything until I woke them up to see if (Carroll) was home or not,” Dumm said. He added that the owner, who moved to the residence previously owned by her mother about four or five years ago, was not at home when the blaze started.

He said the home reportedly is insured. He did not immediately know if anyone was assisting Carroll with shelter or personal belongings.