Greencastle house fire starts in camper

Alert passersby and neighbors phoned 911 after spotting a fire at 96 W. Walter Ave. at 2:30 p.m. Friday, April 27. It appeared to have started in a camper parking in the driveway, and spread to the ranch home.

The resident, Sandra Leydig, was not home, but a relative reported that her dog Petey, a Jack Russell/Pug mix, had been rescued. She was unsure about the two cats.

Greencastle fire police were at the corner of Walter and U.S. 11 before fire trucks arrived. They began directing traffic as the Rescue Hose Company, Marion, MMP&W, Waynesboro, Maugansville and Longmeadow departments and the Franklin County Air Unit appeared in succession.

The light haziness in the sky grew darker and denser as the fire increased in intensity. Bystanders thought it started in the camper’s propane tank.

“With this wind, it wouldn’t take much to spread it,” said one man.

Flames leaped to the roof of the house, resulting in heat and water damage. Crews had the fire out in a half hour and were on the scene for two hours.

The Pennsylvania State Police fire marshall investigating the cause of the fire was not available for comment by presstime.