A fire destroyed a home and an empty business along River Avenue in the Natrona section of Harrison on Saturday.
The fire started at 21 River Ave. Homeowner Jeff Martinka said he cooked fries at home and went into his back yard to eat. Then he turned and saw the fire in his house.
“I asked a neighbor to get a fire extinguisher, but it was too late,” said Martinka, 62, who has lived in the house all her life. “No more.”
Martinka escaped with her dog, Dakota. His cat, Larry, went to the roof and ran away.
No one died, according to Jeff Balog, chief of Hilltop Hose Fire Co. in Natrona Heights. Some of the first responders were treated for minor injuries.
The strong wind that hit the area last Saturday made it difficult to put out the fire, said Balog. In the end, about 15 crews were called to the area as a precaution in case the fire spread quickly.
“We want to err on the side of caution,” Balog said.
The fire spread to an empty building next door, the former Silver Slipper bar, and nearly engulfed a third building, but crews were able to get it under control.
“Natrona is an old town with many old buildings structurally – very close – so there is always a risk of spreading,” said Balog.
It took about two hours to control the fire, he said.
Martinka said she grew up in a household with eight siblings.
“It was an old house, which didn’t help anyone.”
A neighbor on River Avenue, Tim Negley, tried to help with a fire extinguisher.
“I was at the park and saw the smoke,” Negley said. “I ran to our house to get the extinguisher but it was too far.”
Some residents raised concerns about the neighborhood not having its own fire department, instead relying on nearby departments to respond.
Frances Sandarksi Brown said she saw gray and black smoke from her home on Chestnut Avenue.
“We have good coverage with ambulances. What we need is a fire department.”
He said he plans to put together a petition to take to the town commissioners.
A fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire, which Balog said was routine.
Stephanie Ritenbaugh is a staff writer for the Tribune-Review. You can contact Stephanie at sritenbaugh@triblive.com.
