ARNOT - Blossburg, Liberty, Mansfield and Wellsboro Fire departments responded Monday to a structure fire at 556 Arnot Road here.
Blossburg Assistant Fire Chief Charlie Irwin, who said the fire was reported about 7 a.m. by a passing truck driver, was still looking over the fire scene after 3 p.m.
"The house was fully involved when we arrived on scene and thankfully no one was home," Irwin said.
Article Photos
LONNIE FROST/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
An Arnot family was left homeless after a fire destroyed their house on Monday.
Blossburg Fire Chief Shawn Carey said it appeared to be an electrical fire that occurred in the center of the home near the basement stairway.
"Sadly the home is a complete loss," Carey said.
Residents Joseph Yarborough and Rachael Nagy were at work when they were contacted about the fire. As they arrived at the home, their hopes of saving anything were gone as they watched flames destroy everything they owned.
The couple, along with their two sons, 2-year-old Ulrich and 3 1/2-year-old Joe Jr., lost everything, including the family's Christmas gifts.
The family did not have renters' insurance.
Neighbors nearby could not believe how quickly the house was consumed by the flames.
"It's bad enough when a family loses a home, but it is so much harder when it happens around a holiday," one person commented.
The family is staying with relatives in the area. Donations are being collected at KC101, WNBT radio station's headquarters, off Route 6, east of Wellsboro, and at Bergy's Place.
