State Senator Survives House Fire

UPPER MORELAND, Pa. - Officials said Pennsylvania state Sen. Stewart Greenleaf and his family escaped an early morning fire that destroyed his home at Terwood and Paper Mill roads.

Greeenleaf is a Montgomery County Republican who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Officials said the blaze broke out at the two-story Upper Moreland Township home around 3:30 a.m. Sunday.

Greenleaf said in a statement that a smoke detector woke him up around 3 a.m., and he saw the flames on the first floor. He was able to wake his wife and son safely out of the house.

About 150 firefighters responded and officials said high winds and freezing temperatures made fighting the fire difficult.

"It was a challenging fire in terms of the water turning to ice, the wind condition, a very, very, very cold night. But the wind condition actually accelerated the fire a bit once the fire had a foothold in the house. Thirty, 40 mph winds will make the fire significantly grow," Fire Marshal Bob Drennen said.

The blaze was declared under control around 5 a.m.

The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Greenleaf said in a statement Sunday afternoon, "I would like to thank all of the fire companies and volunteers who responded and fought the fire under extreme conditions. While we have lost all of our possessions, we are thankful for our lives."