HARRISVILLE — A town of Diana residence was destroyed by a Tuesday afternoon fire that reportedly started in a dryer.
Harrisville firefighters at 12:55 p.m. were called to the Charles LaVancha residence at 13950 South Bonaparte Road and requested mutual aid from Natural Bridge, West Carthage, Croghan, Carthage and Fine fire departments.
The building and its contents were a total loss, displacing two adults and three children, Lewis County Fire Coordinator Robert A. MacKenzie III said in a fire report.
All occupants were able to escape the building, but several pets were lost in the blaze, he said.
Occupants reported that they smelled smoke and saw flames coming from the clothes dryer, which quickly spread to the rest of the house, Mr. MacKenzie said.
“Fire crews battled heavy snows, high winds and bitter cold,” he said.
The American Red Cross was called to meet the family’s immediate needs.
There was no insurance on the structure.