JAMESTOWN – A house destroyed by fire early Wednesday morning will likely be torn down by emergency demolition later in the day.
City of Jamestown’s Director of Development Vince DeJoy said his department will be working with fire officials to develop a plan to bring down the single-family home at 618 Pine St.
“They are still working on the fire; they have not been able to put it out. That is one of the reasons we need an emergency demolition,” said DeJoy. “The structure is severely compromised and we can’t have a burned out hulk. A month from now, there will be kids coming to school here.”
DeJoy said the homeowner just put a new roof on the home. As of 9 a.m., fire crews were ripping into the roof to try and knock down the blaze.
One of the homeowner’s neighbors ran to calls of help just before 6:30 a.m. as fire engulfed the building.
“I came out to go walk down to the store and she was out here yelling for help,” said Evelyn Fluent, a Pine Street resident. “Flames were coming out both sides, all the way up to the top.”
“I was worried that there might be someone else in the house or the other houses would catch on fire.”
DeJoy said the demolition will likely take place later today after the utilities are shut off and a contractor can be obtained. Rubble, then, will likely sit at the site until proper cleanup can take place.
The Red Cross is now on scene to assist the homeowner.
Crews responded to the scene shortly before 6:30 a.m. No injuries were reported.
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