SHENANDOAH - A woman who jumped from a third-floor window to escape a fast moving fire inside her apartment building remains in critical condition at an area trauma center.
Lisa Goida, 43, who lived at 36 W. Coal St., jumped as flames were consuming her apartment building, producing heavy smoke, state police fire marshal Trooper Michael J. Kowalick, of Troop L headquarters in Reading, said.
The woman's boyfriend, Dean W. Tessitore, 52, was helped from an adjacent third-floor window by borough firefighters who arrived minutes after receiving the 3:20 a.m. call, Kowalick said.
Tessitore was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street and treated for smoke inhalation, Shenandoah police Patrolman Kirk Kirkland said. Tessitore was later released.
As daylight broke, the devastation was evident.
Flames destroyed buildings at 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 W. Coal St. along with homes at 125, 127 and 129 N. Jardin St., according to borough fire marshal Rick Examitas.
Examitas said that Goida was taken to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, by ambulance for treatment of serious injuries she suffered when landing on the cement sidewalk in front of her home. He said it was initially hoped to fly the woman to the Montour County trauma center but all medical helicopters were grounded due to inclement weather.
April Tovar, who lives at 33 W. Coal St., directly across from the home of Goida and Tessitore, was awakened by loud noise and saw the heavy smoke outside.
As she walked out of her door, Tovar said she saw Goida hanging out of the third-floor window on the east side of the building.
"She was yelling for help," Tovar said. "She kept saying it's hot in here, I can't breathe."
At the same time, Tovar said Tessitore was hanging out of the opposite window on the west side of the building.
As sirens could be heard approaching, Tovar said the woman jumped.
"We kept telling them to hang on, help is coming," Tovar said. "I guess she felt like she couldn't wait any longer."
Firefighters arrived, quickly placed a ladder to the third floor and helped Tessitore to safety while medics from Shenandoah ALS and borough police officers Joseph Hahn and Tyler Dissinger began treating Goida.
Tovar said she banged on a door at 38 W. Coal St. and was able to alert a man and woman who were able to escape safely with their small child.
"It was bad," Tovar said of the fire. "It was all real thick smoke and then fire everywhere."
Kowalick is investigating the fire with assistance from Trooper Thomas Finn.
Kowalick said it is believed the fire started in a back, second-floor middle room at 36 W. Coal St. and spread from there.
Kowalick said that he is classifying the cause of the blaze as undetermined but said that the investigation is ongoing.
Examitas said that crews arriving on scene quickly realized the magnitude of the flames and construction of the buildings that included common roofs.
The fire quickly went to four alarms, bringing in volunteers from surrounding communities to assist.
About an hour into the fire, air horns on fire apparatus sounded eerily in the night telling all firefighters battling the blaze from inside to exit since the situation was deteriorating.
Examitas said going into a defensive mode was done for the safety of firefighters, adding that no firefighter injuries were reported.
Examitas said officials were still working on getting the identities of both the property owners and those displaced.
Although nothing concrete has been determined, Examitas said more than 10 people could have been left homeless by the fire.
When flames shot out of the front of the West Coal Street homes during the early part of the fire, they damaged a utility pole and attached electrical wires.
This interrupted electrical service to a majority of the homes and businesses located in the northern end of the borough. Homes and business south of Centre Street appeared to be unaffected.