No injuries were reported when a fire tore through the home of an East Deer firefighter Friday afternoon.
The blaze at the Bertolini home in the 200 block of Baileys Run Road was reported shortly after 1 p.m., according to Allegheny County 911.
Firefighters at the scene said their efforts were hampered by a metal roof on the home, which trapped flames between it and another roof below it.
The East Deer Township Volunteer Fire Department identified the home as belonging to the Bertolini family. Herman Bertolini is listed as firefighter and emergency medical technician.
“Herman has been a longtime and dedicated firefighter at our department for many years, serving his community of East Deer Township,” the department said on its Facebook page.
A GoFundMe set up by the family hit a $5,000 goal within a few hours, and had raised nearly $10,000 toward a $16,000 goal from 64 donations as of Sunday evening.
The campaign started by Alyssa Bertolini confirmed that everyone got out safely, but that the fire destroyed the home that had been in the family for three generations and nearly everything they owned.
They had no insurance.
