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KINGSTON — Fajitas left unattended while cooking led to a fire late Tuesday that spread and caused significant damage to a home, officials say.

Kingston Fire Chief Frank Guido said five people were displaced during the blaze reported about 11 p.m. at 420 N. Maple Ave.

No residents or firefighters were hurt, Guido said, but two cats died. In addition, a pit bull died after being worked on at an animal hospital, the chief reported.

Initially, officials said the dog had been revived.

The home, just off Price Street and the fourth residence behind Wyoming Valley West’s administration building, was left in an unlivable condition but is not totaled, according to Guido.

He said the house contained two units, one upstairs and one downstairs. People at one of the units will be staying with family; the other tenants are getting help from the Red Cross, which had a volunteer at the scene.

Fire trucks lined Maple Avenue, Price Street and even spilled out onto Route 11 at about 11:45 p.m. The fire was out at that point, but a witness said flames had been shooting through the back of the home.

The only visible damage to the exterior front of the house was black soot above the front door and front windows, and more soot at the top of the three-story residence.

Guido described the fire as a “cooking incident.” He said a woman inside was making fajitas for someone for lunch the next day.

“She left it unattended for 10 minutes,” the chief said, describing how the fire broke out.

Firefighters were rolling up hoses and leaving the scene by about 12:15 a.m.

This home at 420 N. Maple Ave. caught fire late Tuesday. The blaze displaced five residents and killed two cats and a dog, officials reported.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_IMG_0939-4.jpg.optimal.jpgThis home at 420 N. Maple Ave. caught fire late Tuesday. The blaze displaced five residents and killed two cats and a dog, officials reported. Michael Reich | Times Leader

By Michael Reich

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