UPDATE: Fire crews use over 1,500 feet of hose to put out Liberty Township fire
A family in Liberty Township has lost their house after a fire destroyed it earlier this evening.
Crews from more than 10 valley fire departments worked to put out a structure fire, which began around 7 p.m. on the 900 block of Tibetts-Wick Road.
Those departments include Howland, Liberty, Vienna, Youngstown and Eagle Joint. Girard is also on scene. Nine fire tankers were also called to help put out the fire because two fire hydrants failed to operate properly, preventing crews from using them.
At this point, it is unclear why the fire hydrants were not working.
The fire was extinguished around 11:00 p.m. Wednesday.
According to Liberty Fire Chief Douglas Theobald, the fire is believed to have started on the second floor. Theobald says the house was occupied by four children between the ages of five and 14 years old, two parents and one dog.
Chief Theobald says the house is considered a total loss. Despite this, the family was able to get out with no injuries and no firefighters were injured. The house is still smoldering according to Theobald.
Theobald says the family was able to recover a few small items, but for the most part, everything was damaged by either fire or smoke.
Firefighters battled icy roads while putting out the fire and had to use over 1,500 feet of hose to supply water from working fire hydrants. That water is now frozen over.
Right now the cause of the fire is not known, but the State Fire Marshal is currently on scene investigating.