Ron and Jean Worline escaped an early-morning blaze in their Denver home when they were awakened by a smoke alarm Saturday.
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County dispatchers received multiple calls reporting the fire at 156 E. Lancaster Ave. at 2:30 a.m.; neighbor Gerald Petery was the first to call.
Flames were through the roof and floors of the 2 1/2-story single-family home when firefighters arrived, Denver Fire Co. Assistant Chief Harold Martzall said.
"The smoke alarm wakened the wife which saved their lives," Martzall said.
The blaze was under control in 51 minutes, he said. A neighbor said two cats and a parrot may have died in the fire.
The house was collapsed by a restoration crew and the front was boarded up. The entire left side of the house was destroyed and charred items including a blackened woodstove, computer keyboard and chairs littered the lawn Saturday afternoon.
The couple escaped uninjured, but for a small burn on Jean's wrist, according to neighbor and friend Dave Steiner.
Steiner, who has known the Worlines' for 25 years, said all that was saved were a few firearms, a file cabinet and fishing poles.
Dave fishes and plays cards with Ron, who he has known since the mid-1980s; they were going to play cards together on Saturday night.
Steiner's wife, Kathy, woke him up when she heard "crackling and popping," and smelled tires burning. Steiner said the flames were 20 feet in the air and the house was "gone in 20 minutes."
Next-door neighbor Anna Short called it a "towering inferno of fire." She was awakened by what she thought was thunder, and when she looked out the window could see the flames.
"Fortunately it was calm [the wind], but we were scared," she said.
"It was total devastation. All they have is the clothes on their back," said Steiner. "Thirty-five years down the drain," adding that the house just had new flooring and new siding put in.
The cause of the fire — which started in the garage — is unknown.
Damage included the loss of two almost-new vehicles parked in the garage.
"Thank God they have their lives," said Kathy.
The Worlines' are staying with their daughter in Reinholds.
Stevens, Schoeneck, Reamstown, Reinholds, and Adamstown Fire Companies assisted Denver Fire Company. Ephrata Area Rescue Services, Reamstown EMS and East Cocalico Township Police Department also responded.
E-mail: jscott@lnpnews.com;
mstoltzfus@lnpnews.com
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