Woodward Township house fire cause released

MONTOURSVILLE, PA – A state police fire marshal has determined that the cause of a June 27 fire at the Brian St. John residence off Brewery Hollow Road in Woodward Township was careless smoking.

The state police report was filed on Tuesday. It said the investigation indicated the origin of the fire was due to a careless smoking incident; that incident ignited light combustible materials near the exterior of the residence. The fire marshal wrote that ignited a log portion of the home, the fire spreading to the roof system. Therefore, the fire marshal determined, the fire has been ruled accidental.

Authorities at the time of the fire said the St. John family was not at home and two relatives had been staying in its west wing and safely escaped, one examined at UPMC Lock Haven for smoke inhalation.