UPDATE (9am Tuesday, March 13):
A Butler Township home that caught fire over the weekend has been ruled a total loss.
Fire Marshal Larry Christy said the cause of the fire has been officially classified as undetermined but not suspicious.
“It’s been ruled undetermined because of the amount of damage and the numerous possible causes due to all the things that were inside the garage and house that could have contributed to the initial fire,” Christy said Tuesday.
The one-story home on Irene Drive will likely be torn down.
Police say 80-year-old Howard Killmeyer lived inside the house alone. He was able to safely escape due to working smoke detectors.
Nearby homes were not damaged.
Butler Township Fire District Station 3 Chief Dave Bestwick said the fire started about 4 p.m. at a one-story home on Irene Drive.
“When we arrived there was heavy smoke and flames coming from the left side of the home,” Butler Township Fire District Station 3 Chief Dave Bestwick said in an interview Monday. “Our crew was able to quickly get inside and stop the fire from traveling to the back of the house.”
Bestwick says 80-year-old Howard Killmeyer lived inside the house alone. He was able to safely escape.
“Thankfully, he had working smoke detectors in his home. That’s what saved his life,” he said.
Firefighters remained on scene for about three hours on Sunday putting out hot spots.