Renovo Road Fire Victim Reported Stable at Lehigh Valley Burn Center

COLEBROOK TOWNSHIP – An area man burned in a Friday afternoon house fire on Oak Ridge Lane along the Renovo Road is reported to be holding his own at the Lehigh Valley Burn Center in Allentown. A family member said Jerome Counsil, 73, suffered severe side burns in the blaze that destroyed the frame home five miles north of Lock Haven.

The family member said Counsil was transported by ambulance to UPMC Lock Haven Hospital and remained there until taken by ambulance at 6:30 p.m. Friday to the burn center as helicopter transportation was grounded by Friday storms. He said Counsil is not in critical condition and a further update was to be available in 24 hours.

Counsil was interviewed at the local hospital by a state police fire marshal as authorities search for the cause of the blaze which leveled the home owned by Krista Young. She was not at home at the time. Officials said there were two other males inside, in addition to Council; they assisted him in leaving the flaming building. Both were checked over at UPMC Lock Haven Hospital and released, the family member said.

Firemen were hampered by a lack of a nearby water source and had to relay water by tanker from a hydrant on Lock Haven’s Susquehanna Avenue, six miles away.