SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS - An accidental fire left seven people - six adults and a child - temporarily homeless Tuesday night.
Firefighters were called to the home of William and Fran Jones at 189 Ohio Ave. in this West Mahanoy Township village and found heavy fire inside a garage attached to the home.
The couple escaped the fire but lost two pet cats, said Shenandoah Heights Fire Company Assistant Chief Anthony Wysocki.
The fire also damaged an attached home at 191 Ohio Ave. occupied by Troy and Sue Dixon, the couple's son, Michael, and his wife and their child.
State police fire marshal Trooper Edward Lizewski was at the scene Wednesday afternoon and determined the cause of the blaze was an overheated garage door opener.
Wysocki said the Joneses are staying with relatives in Shenandoah Heights while the residents of 191 Ohio Ave. were placed a hotel by the American Red Cross Schuylkill Chapter.
Wysocki said Michael Dixon helped the Joneses from their house before firefighters arrived.
Wysocki lives across the street at 190 Ohio Ave. He said he and his wife were asleep when she woke him after hearing glass shattering.
That glass was a side window on the garage of the Joneses' home that burst onto the walkway due to intense heat inside the building.
"It was the window popping that woke her up," Wysocki said. "When I went out, all you could see is fire in the garage."
The chief said firefighters were able to knock the fire down within minutes after they arrived and keep the majority of the damage to the garage.
"I owe these guys," he said about the volunteers who responded and used their training to save the homes.
Assisting Shenandoah Heights firefighters were volunteers from William Penn, Altamont and Shenandoah.
Firefighters from Englewood stood by outside the building with their Rapid Intervention Team in case a firefighter was injured or trapped.
Lost Creek EMS was also at the scene and traffic control was conducted by area fire police and officers from both Shenandoah and West Mahanoy Township.