UPDATED: Family Displaced by Wind-Driven Fire

UPDATE: Monday, 6:15 p.m.:

Penndel Fire Marshal Jim Bamfield told LevittownNow.com the two injured firefighters were taken to the hospital for treatment. A Parkland Fire Company volunteer hurt his ribs and a William Penn Fire Company volunteer suffered second- and third-degree burns when a portion of the ceiling collapsed on them.

What sparked the fire remains under investigation.

Original Story:

Flames were shooting through the front windows of a house in the 90 block of Holly Drive in Penndel Borough when police officers arrived Monday at 11:45 a.m.

Inside the burning home, three members of a family were able to get out safety along with their dog. Penndel officers knocked on the doors of neighboring homes to evacuate residents; one woman who was handicapped was helped out, borough Police Chief Joseph Sciscio said.

Despite the best efforts of firefighters from several towns, the two-story home was destroyed by the fire that officials say was spread by the gusty wind. The pungent stench of smoke caused by the house fire filled the neighborhoods off Bellevue Avenue.

Officials said four people and a dog were displaced by the blaze, which took about an hour to control. The Red Cross was called to help the family, but it was determined the family’s insurance would help and the Red Cross was not needed, spokesperson Sara Smith said.

Borough Fire Marshal Jim Bamfield said the cause of the fire remained under investigation as of 1 p.m.

“We expect to be here for hours,” he told LevittownNow.com.

A neighboring house did suffer some damage when flames briefly spread to that structure’s porch.

Firefighters did face some water problems and had to deploy an extra line to assist with their efforts. Bamfield said the problem was simply rooted in the fact the large fire required so much water.

As of 1:30 p.m., there were scanner reports two firefighters were transported to St. Mary Medical Center with minor injuries. No further information was available as of press time.

Fire police closed a portion Bellevue Avenue for a period of time.

A similar fire heavily damage a home one street up on Parkview Drive in spring 2012.