Firefighters from across most of northern Schuylkill County and part of Northumberland County responded to a multi alarm house fire near Fountain Springs.
The call came in just before noon Thursday for a report of a house fire at 670 Fountain Street.
Firefighters arrived to find the rear of the home at 672 Fountain Street fully engulfed in flames and a working fire was advised along with a second alarm.
A tanker task for was also requested and remained on standby in case water was needed.
Firefighters fought the fire for approximately an hour before it was marked under control.
The fire destroyed the home and damaged the siding of a nearby home.
Early reports were that a family lived in the home but haven't lived there since a small basement fire several weeks ago.
Butler Township Police at the scene said that a Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal will be requested to the scene to investigate a cause.
As of 1:20pm, several units had begun to clear the scene.
Responding to the scene were units from Englewood, Fountain Springs, Lavelle, Gordon, Ashland, Frackville, Shenandoah, Mahanoy City, Girardville, Ryan Township, Minersville, Pitman, and Kulpmont.
Butler Township Police and Washington Ambulance from Ashland were also on scene.
Route 61 remains closed between the intersection with Broad Street and the intersection with Malones Road. The road closure is also impacting North Schuylkill traffic that will be leaving the school after 2:30pm.
