Community Rallies Around Firefighter After Heidelberg House Fire

Heidelberg firefighters are rallying around one of their own members after his house was destroyed by fire early Thursday morning, leaving six people homeless.

The home at 476 First St. sustained major damage after the blaze began shortly after midnight Thursday and rekindled hours later.

Firefighter Jason Adkins, who has been a member for seven years, shared the home with his wife, their two boys, and his father and grandmother. The American Red Cross is helping the family and paying for them to stay in a hotel and providing them with supplies.

Heidelberg fire Chief Joe Wissel Jr. said his department is also working to get donations from the community to help the family. Wissel said everyone, including the family’s dogs, made it out safely.

“Jason and his family experienced a loss of immeasurable proportion,” Wissel said.

The family is asking any donations be made to the Heidelberg VFD Attn: Firefighter Adkins Relief Fund.  People can also donate clothing and other supplies at the fire department.

“With such a great support network within our department and also our Heidelberg community, the family has received clothing donations that have satisfied what they will need, but with a loss of this proportion the Atkins family has lost all their household goods,” Wissel said.

The donation points are the Heidelberg Fire Station at 456 First Street, Kirwan Heights VFD at 1200 Washington Pike, and the Rennerdale VFD at 30 Suburban Ave.

Meanwhile, investigators are still working to figure out what sparked the fire. The Allegheny County fire marshal was on scene early Thursday morning to investigate.

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