10-year-old alerts family to Donegal Township fire

A 10-year-old Donegal Township girl is being credited for saving her family from their burning mobile home Tuesday morning.

Stephen Roadman’s 10-year-old daughter, Abbagail, woke him around 7:30 a.m. and they rushed out of the home on Roadman Lane, he said.

“Thank God for her,” he said while watching firefighters work. “I just started grabbing things back in that hallway and yelling for everybody to get out.”

Roadman said he fled outside with his wife, Chrissy, Abbagail and his young son. His two teenage boys had previously left for school in Mt. Pleasant, family members said.

“I made a couple of trips back and forth getting stuff out. … I saw flames back in that hallway … and then I ran back outside to move some cars out of the way so they could get the fire trucks in here,” he said.

Chrissy Roadman said the fire appears to have started in a rear bedroom closet, “where there is a fuse box.” However, the exact cause has not been determined, firefighters said.

A firefighter from Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Department said the mobile home was extensively damaged. He was relieved the family escaped injury.

A family dog, Sassy, perished in the blaze.

Although the fire hall is located several miles away in Stahlstown, the firefighter said crews were able to respond quickly and douse the flames at the mobile home, which is adjacent to the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

“We were able to knock it down pretty quickly with the first two trucks that got here. We are also fortunate that we have some employees working with two townships — Cook and Donegal — who were able to immediately respond from their jobs as well. … That was a big help,” the firefighter said.

Cook Township Supervisor Josh Umbaugh and part-time employee Edward Chearney, Donegal Township Supervisor Daniel Pribisco and employee Jay Sieskey responded to the scene.

“With the personnel numbers in fire departments today, any help you can get is really needed,” said Chearney, as he worked a pumper truck nearby.

Pribisco, a firefighter for 19 years, said having firemen working within the same community where they volunteer is a big help.

“We’re thankful for all employers who let their workers respond to fires … public or private. We really appreciate it,” Pribisco said.

Chrissy Roadman said her husband, Stephen, was treated for smoke inhalation.