Blaze damages Coudersport home

A floor furnace malfunction is believed to be the cause of a fire that heavily damaged an unoccupied Coudersport home and its contents Thursday.

According to Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Phelps, volunteers were summoned to the structure at about 7 a.m. and found it to be heavily involved. With temperatures hovering at less than five degrees, volunteers concentrated on not only dousing the flames, but also protecting two adjacent homes.

Firefighters from Roulette, Austin and Galeton also responded under the mutual aid system.

Phelps said the 50 or so volunteers should be commended for saving adjacent homes and salvaging what they could of the contents.

The house is owned by Roseann B. Wiedmann of Rehoboth Beach, Del. Damage was extensive, Phelps said. The home was gutted and among the contents destroyed were antiques and furniture.

Firefighters were assisted by members of the Coudersport Volunteer Ambulance Association, Medic 6, Borough Police and Public Works department. No injuries were reported.