This article from the Lykens Standard, August 28, 1925, described an explosion of oil in a Lykens home. Miraculously, the nearly 90-year-old who was attempting to light the stove escaped injury, but her home was destroyed. Ironically, this incident occurred at a time that manufacturers of these stoves were heavily advertising them as better than the older stoves which used coal and/or wood as fuel.
FIRE YESTERDAY DESTROYED DWELLING; OIL STOVE EXPLODEDS; LOSS $3,000
Fire which started in the kitchen of the home of Mrs. Lydia Kerschner, West South Second Street, yesterday afternoon at about 3:15 P. M., practically destroyed the entire three-story frame structure.
Mrs. Kerschner was about to get her supper and intended lighting an oil stove, when the oil exploded setting fire to the kitchen. Fortunately, Mrs. Kerschner, who is more than 90 years of age, escaped without being burned.
Property of Mrs. Jacob Matter
The home was the property of Mrs. Jacob Matter, also an aged lady of this place, residing at corner of North Second and West Streets. Mrs. Matter at the time of being interviewed was uncertain whether or not the insurance which she arrived had lapsed.
Loss More Than $3,000
The blaze started in the kitchen, crept along a grape arbor to the roof, and thru the partition of the roof to the second floor of the dwelling, eating its way to the top of the house. All the furnishings of the home were in the dwelling and were soaked with water, making nearly all the perishable materials a total loss. The flames gained great headway and the structure was enveloped in flames before the arrival of the fire department.
Water Pressure Caused Delay
Liberty Hose Company on its arrival connected to the fire plugs and were pumping a pressure of 150 pounds. Orders were given to cut down the pressure after which the pump refused to work, and the company was almost helpless in their efforts, because of the low pressure of the water force.
Wiconisco Engine Did Good Work
Wiconisco Fire Engine Company were early on the scene and threw a hose into Rattling Creek and pumped two heavy streams to the blazing structure. With their assistance and good work the fire companies were able to confine the flames to the dwelling. For a time it was feared the home of Haydn Stuppy located directly west of the Kerschner home with but eight feet between would also be ignited.
Ms. Kerschner was taken to the home of her sister, Mrs. Jacob Matter, where she will remain until the home is repaired for her.
Liberty Hose Company No. 2, of Lykens, has a description of this fire on its web site. There is also an epilogue which indicates that Mrs. Kirschner died almost six months after the fire, and suggests that a stroke that she suffered was due to the shock of seeing her home destroyed by flames. See: https://www.lykensfire.com/incidents.php?1390.5775.32
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Story from Newspapers.com.
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