2-Alarm Fire Rips Through Newtown Township Home

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — A two-alarm fire destroyed a home in the Lakeview Estates neighborhood late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.

Newtown Fire Rescue responded to Harmony Way off of Eagle Road just before midnight for a report of a building fire. Also responding on the initial call were Northampton, Upper Makefield and Lingohocken.

Newtown Fire Rescue Chief Glenn Forsyth, who was the first to arrive on the scene, reported heavy fire showing on the rear side of the building rapidly expanding into the two-story house.

"We did make an interior attack. We were pushed back by a collapse at the rear of the building and the intensity of the fire," said Chief Forsyth.

For the next 15 minutes, crews from Engines 45 and 73 hit the fire with master streams until it was safe enough to re-enter the building.

"We then went back inside and were able to get the bulk of the fire knocked down," said Chief Forsyth.

An overhead view of the devastation inside the home. (Bucks County Special Operations)

Bucks County Special Operations used thermal imaging to assist the fire crews on the ground in locating hot spots.

A second alarm was sounded bringing additional crews and equipment to the scene due to a serious exposure problem, said the chief.

"One of the houses next door was actually on fire when we got there and the siding of the house on the other side was melted and was close to igniting," said the chief.

The second alarm brought firefighters to the scene from Yardley-Makefield, Penndel, Langhorne-Middletown, and Feasterville to keep the fire from spreading to the adjacent homes.

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Bucks County Special Operations also responded to the scene, providing a drone that was used to take overhead photographs of the dwelling to aid local fire investigators. Thermal imaging was also provided to assist the fire crews in locating hot spots.

The fire was declared under control at 12:41 a.m. but firefighters remained on the scene until 3:32 a.m. conducting cleanup operations.

According to Chief Forsyth, the fire was called in by the homeowner, who was the only one at home at the time of the fire.

There were no injuries and the cause of the fire remains under investigation, although he added, "There's nothing suspicious about it."

Firefighters conducting mop-up operations after putting out the fire. (Penndel Fire Company)