Man rescued from house fire

EDWARD LEWIS

elewis@timesleader.com

PLYMOUTH – An East Shawnee Avenue resident and a U.S. postal worker are being credited for rescuing a man from a burning home Tuesday morning.

Donald Stock’s small single-story home at 198 E. Shawnee Ave. was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived just after 11:30 a.m.

Fire Chief Jerry Bolesta said tall trees and heavy brush on the property, and debris inside the home, made fighting the blaze difficult.

“It appears to be an accidental fire from a space heater,” Bolesta said. “There was a lot of garbage in the structure. The trees caught on fire. Luckily, there were no injuries.”

Bolesta said it took nearly an hour to bring the fire under control.

Stock, 63, was attempting to pour water on the fire before firefighters arrived, neighbor Judy Lukatchik said.

“I thought he was outside when I ran over,” Lukatchik said. “I was yelling at him to get out. He said he was pouring water on the fire.”

Lukatchik’s mother, Eleanor Basta, called 911 after seeing heavy black smoke coming from Stock’s home.

“My daughter ran over, yelling, ‘Donald, Donald.’ He said he was getting water to pour on the fire.”

John Keegan, a neighbor, and letter carrier Jim Pechulis, helped Stock from his burning home.

Keegan said he was driving home when he saw smoke. He pulled into his driveway and saw Pechulis running toward the burning home.

“I saw the mailman run over, and helped Donald out of the house,” Keegan said.

Keegan managed to retrieve a duffel bag that Stock uses for personal belongings.

“He’s a quiet man, keeps to himself,” Keegan said.

“He said he just bought the space heater at a Salvation Army store,” Keegan said.

Stock, who is disabled, was taken to a hospital as a precaution, Bolesta said.

Bolesta said the Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne and Wyoming counties or the American Red Cross of Wyoming Valley will be called to assist Stock in finding housing.

Edward Lewis, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7196.