Pocono News Section

Investigators Look into Poconos Apartment Building Fire

Investigators Look into Poconos Apartment Building Fire - Monday, March 2, 2009 at 3:51PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Monday, Mar 2, 2009 @ 03:51pm EST
KUNKLETOWN - Ten people are homeless after a fire in the Poconos. Investigators are trying to figure out what started the fire at the corner of Kunkletown and Fiddletown roads in Monroe County.

Twenty four hours after a fire devoured the Kunkletown apartment building smoke and memories linger. "It's just a bunch of rubble. It's just nothing," said Ruthann Anewalt of Gilbert.

Anewalt was born in the building that burnt down Saturday afternoon. She came by to see what was left. "It's awful. it's like your childhood just went up in smoke. It's awful," she remarked.

Ten people lived in the place. They escaped the fire. Their belongings did not. Anewalt said, "I feel sorry for them because it's really nice to live back here."

The heat from the flames got so intense that it melted the siding on the house across the street. Homeowner Lorraine Kuhenbeaker told Eyewitness News, "I looked around and said 'Oh my God! Look at my house!"

She saw the flames as she returned from a shopping trip. During that trip, she bought a smoke detector. "The last week and a half I've been dreaming about fires," she said.

Kuhenbeaker said she is close to two of the victims. They helped her care for her sick husband and even visited Monday morning to make sure she was all right. She said, "They are wonderful people, wonderful people."

Now she opes people help her neighbors the way her neighbors have always helped her.

The Monroe County Red Cross is accepting donations for the fire victims.