Officials said a three-alarm house fire Friday, Dec. 5, along Eakin Road in Venango Township destroyed the structure, but reported no injuries.

The residents and their pets evacuated as emergency crews were dispatched at 10:38 a.m. for a fire in the chimney of 193 Eakin Road.

Dale Sellers, chief of Eau Claire Volunteer Fire Department, said he called for a second alarm as soon as he arrived and saw heavy smoke with flames protruding from the top of the chimney shortly after 10:40 a.m.

With only three firefighters available, Sellers said his team began “attacking” the fire from the outside. He said his crew quickly ran out of water and had to wait for more to arrive.

“You got to wait for trucks to come (from) 15 miles away to get water,” Sellers said.

Most of the responding fire depart

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