Fire forces family of 3 from home

11/11/2003

A fire that appeared to originate near a living room fireplace last night forced a Springfield Township family to flee their home at 9485 Old State Line Rd.

District Fire Chief George DeCair said Robert Grabowski heard a smoke detector go off about 8:45 p.m. and found smoke coming from a wall in his living room. A fire had been burning in the fireplace.

He got his wife, Debra, and their 4-year-old child out and went back in to try to extinguish the blaze before calling the fire department, Chief DeCair said.

Firefighters needed about 25 minutes to bring the blaze under control. It was confined to the living room, a portion of the kitchen, and an adjoining room.

Mr. Grabowski told firefighters the fireplace chimney was cleaned several months ago.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.