Monday, December 31, UDPATED: 3:34 p.m. By Bob Reynolds

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Fire crews hose down the fire at the double-block home on West Ridge Street in Lansford.

Firefighters in Carbon County were busy Monday morning fighting a house fire. The same house may have been the scene of a crime just last week.

The sound of horns from a fleet of fire trucks was a warning for crews in Lansford to get out of the burning building. Officials feared part of the double-block home on West Ridge Street. Crews from Carbon and Schuylkill counties responded.

"Thank God everybody is off work today because it's New Year's Eve the fortunate thing is that there is a lot of manpower here because everybody is off," said Mary Kelly Aungst.

Officials said there was no power hooked up to the homes. The fire started on the 219 side of the building. They're not calling the fire suspicious, but that could change.

"There was a report of a break-in. I believe, on the 221 side and there was a report that kerosene was spread all over the place and people were having a party in there," said Lansford Assistant Chief Joseph Greco.

Fire fighting is a dangerous job and at times that brings out Mary Ellen Greco and her children, Tony and Thomas to make sure their dad is okay.

"It gives my children peace of mind whenever daddy gets called out and if he is in close range we always have to see where he is. It gives them a visual of where he is and gives them peace of mind too," Mary Ellen Greco said.

Some of the homes on West Ridge are close. Neighbors were thankful firefighters kept it from spreading.

"We used to get high winds up here and it's lucky it's not real windy because the winds go that way and it could have taken a lot more out," said neighbor Rich Hartzell.