Published: October 01, 2008 11:26 pm      

Homeowner injured in blaze

A man was injured during a fire Wednesday morning that destroyed the home he shares with his wife in the Liberty Park area of Adams Township.

Firefighters rescued one the couple’s dogs, but a couple of other dogs and a boa constrictor perished, St. Michael fire Chief Paul Kundrod said.

Leo Barkley was treated at Memorial Medical Center and then transferred to West Penn Hospital, Pittsburgh, Kundrod said. He received inhalation burns.

Barkley was able to escape the flames on his own, Kundrod said.

His wife, Amy, was at work, he said.

The fire started in the living room area and then spread throughout the home, Kundrod said.

The blaze is believed to be accidental, he said.

A state police fire marshal was asked to determine the cause, Kundrod said.

There was insurance on the one-story home, he said. An estimate of the damage was not immediately available.

The Red Cross is assisting the family. Neighbors provided refreshments to firefighters who responded from St. Michael, Summerhill Borough, Dunlo and Beaverdale.

Medical personnel from Forest Hills, East Hills and Conemaugh Valley also were at the scene along with Adams Township police.

Kundrod said there were no problems with the radio communications during the fire.

“Everything worked well,” he said.