A retired Middletown police officer’s home was badly damaged by a smoky basement fire early Tuesday morning.
Dispatchers received a fire alarm activation call around 5:05 a.m. in the 400 block of Neshaminy Street in Penndel Borough. Penndel Fire Chief Chuck Fox immediately requested a full response when he arrived and found smoke pushing out the front door.
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Fox said firefighters made their way into the basement that does not have outside access and put down the flames within 30 minutes.
Jim Bampfield, Penndel fire marshal, said firefighters did a great job fighting the basement fire, which is among the most dangerous for crews.
The former police officer and another resident were out of the house and unharmed when firefighters arrived. According to officials, they will be staying with family.
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The cause of the fire remained under investigation as of noon, Bampfield said.
Firefighters from the Langhorne-Middletown, Newtown, Nottingham, Parkland, Third District and William Penn fire companies assisted Penndel crews. The Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad was also on the scene.
