Quick Water-Can Attack Quells Basement Fire on Pinchot Road; Two Pets Rescued

Saxton, PA - Firefighters from the Saxton Volunteer Fire Company (Company 35) diverted straight from a community parade Saturday evening to battle a working basement fire, successfully knocking down the flames and rescuing family pets from a smoke-filled home on Pinchot Road.

At 7:24 p.m. on September 12, 2026, emergency dispatchers alerted Company 35 and surrounding mutual aid departments to a reported dwelling fire at 891 Pinchot Road in Liberty Township. Saxton apparatus mobilized immediately from the Six Mile Run (Station 36) area, where personnel were just wrapping up participation in a Community Days parade.

Assistant Chief 35-1 arrived first on the scene, reporting heavy smoke pushing from the basement and light smoke conditions permeating the upper living areas. The homeowner and his dog had safely evacuated to the exterior prior to the department's arrival.

Engine 35 positioned on location and stretched a precautionary crosslay hoseline directly to the basement entry stairs, while Truck 35 set up in the driveway to handle ventilation and ladder duties. Interior crews entered the subterranean space and pinpointed a small, active fire, which was rapidly knocked down and extinguished using a pressurized water can extinguisher before flames could extend into the floor framing above.

Simultaneously, firefighters deployed positive-pressure ventilation fans on the first floor alongside negative-pressure fans in the basement to rapidly purge the thick smoke from the residence. After the homeowner reported that two cats were unaccounted for inside, search crews re-entered the house and located both felines safe and uninjured, hiding beneath bedroom furniture.

The homeowner was evaluated on scene by emergency medical services personnel for mild smoke inhalation.

The initial structural alarm drew a large multi-county mutual aid response, including Bedford County Companies 36 and 41, Huntingdon County Companies 17 and 3, Blair County Companies 80 and 60, EMS 15, and Blair AMED; several responding units were cleared and placed back in service prior to arrival as local crews quickly brought the scene under control.