Quick Action by Firefighters Contain Row House Blaze            

                A fire badly damaged a home at 1049 Valley Court in Pennsburg early Friday morning, injuring a 15-year-old resident and damaging two adjoining townhomes and forcing the evacuation of eight others.

                Pennsburg firefighters were called to the scene shortly after midnight and found the second and third floors of the home engulfed in flames.

                A 911 caller reported hearing several subjects screaming in the house and said that there was “possible children trapped on the second floor.”  Another caller reported that a 16-year-old boy was still inside the residence. 

                Upper Perk Police, arriving on the scene, reported hearing several explosions.  They also reported that all residents were out of the building.

                According to Pennsburg Fire Chief Scott Seip, “The fire quickly spread to two adjoining houses.”  The homes, at 1047 and 1051 Valley Court sustained fire, heat and smoke damage.   

                A 15-year-old boy was transported to Grand View Hospital in Sellersville with burns on his neck and back.  He was later transferred to Lehigh Valley Medical Center for treatment.  His condition was reported as stable.  The boy lived in the house with his mother, who was taken to the hospital for evaluation.

                A firefighter from Milford Township Fire Company was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in Quakertown after he injured his hand at the fire scene.

                Firefighters quickly brought the fire under control at 12:45 a.m.

                According to officials, the building is part of Pennsburg Commons and is managed by Pennrose Management of Philadelphia.

                Firefighters were on the scene until 2:35 Friday morning.  The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Fire Marshal and a member of the special investigations unit of the Montgomery County Detectives. 

                Officials said that the damage estimate will exceed $200,000.  According to Seip, the development of rental units is owned by Pennsburg Housing Partnership, LP of Philadelphia. 

                Assisting were fire companies from East Greenville, Red Hill, Hereford, Milford Township, Quakertown and Trumbauersville.

                Emergency medical units responding included Upper Perkiomen Valley, Green Lane, Bally and Gilbertsville.

                Canteen units from North Penn Goodwill also responded to the scene.

                Fire units from New Hanover and Lower Frederick were on standby at Pennsburg’s station.