Blow-dryer sparks house fire

BERWICK -- Firefighters fought a house fire at 239 E. Fifth St. on Tuesday in the extreme cold, officials said. The fire started after a man tried to thaw a frozen pipe under his kitchen sink with a blow-dryer. Richard Slavick ignited some insulation, and flames spread behind a wall from the first to the second floor, authorities said. Firefighters wielded axes to cut into the walls and reach the fire. They contained it quickly, and no one was hurt. The weather was so cold, water froze on a window where firefighters had been spraying.

Central super regrets keeping school open

SCOTT TWP. -- Central Columbia Superintendent Harry Mathias says he regrets keeping schools open Tuesday, after nearly 500 students stayed home and angry parents inundated his office with phone calls and emails. Mathias thought he was making the right decision when he opted not to cancel school, even after every other school district in the region closed, he said. But when only 60 percent of the students showed up, he realized he made a mistake, he says. Usually, attendance is around 92-93 percent, he added.

Fire breaks out in Berwick

BERWICK -- A man trying to thaw the pipes under his kitchen sink set his house on fire Tuesday, firefighters said. Richard Slavick of 239 E. Fifth St. set some insulation on fire during his attempt to unblock his pipes, said Fire Chief Bill Coolbaugh. Slavick says he was using a blow dryer to thaw the plumbing. The fire spread from the first to the second floor, and firefighters had to use axes to cut into the walls to expose fire underneath. Coolbaugh said they quickly had the fire contained. Firefighters from Berwick and Espy responded to the call.

Firefighters battle flames, cold in Danville

DANVILLE -- Firefighters were battling to contain a fire on Ash Street to one house Tuesday in icy cold weather. The fire began around 11:15 a.m. in the 100 block of Ash Street. It appeared to have started in the second floor or attic of the house. At first, heavy smoke poured out of both ends of the roof, and, later, flames broke through the rear of the roof. Police and firefighters evacuated the house where the fire began, along with the homes on either side, located close by to the burning structure.

Wreck near Bloom Carpet sends two to hospital

SOUTH CENTRE TWP. -- Gerald Wiggin Jr., 69, of Bloomsburg, was listed in critical condition at a hospital Tuesday afternoon after his minivan collided head on with a minivan on Route 11 near Bloomsburg Carpet. Wiggin, 13 Ridgecrest Drive, was traveling on northbound Route 11 between Bloomsburg and Berwick when his white 2006 Dodge Caravan drifted across the highway and slammed head on into a southbound blue 2008 Chrysler Town & Country driven by Kimberly Nearhoof-O'Malley, 49, of 6955 Hillside Drive in Bloomsburg, South Centre Township Police said.

Schools debate cold-weather closings

EDITOR'S NOTE: Here's the complete list of school closings for Tuesday. * Benton, CLOSED * Berwick, CLOSED * Bloomsburg, CLOSED * Bloomsburg Christian, CLOSED * Columbia County Christian, CLOSED * Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech, CLOSED * Danville Area, CLOSED * Millville Area, CLOSED * Northwest Area, CLOSED * Southern Columbia, CLOSED * Saint Columba, Bloomsburg, CLOSED

Tanker on I-80 spilled 200 gallons, officials say

HEMLOCK TWP. - The tanker truck that overturned on Interstate 80 on Sunday afternoon was carrying 8,500 gallons of gas, but spilled only 200 gallons of that, officials said. It tipped after the SUV in front of it lost control on a snow- and slush-covered road, State Police say. Gary Dorman II, 49, Northumberland, was driving a 2006 Freightliner eastbound on the highway around 4 p.m., when a 2008 Honda Pilot spun out. The SUV hit Dorman's tanker, causing him to lose control and roll the truck on its side across both lanes of the highway.

Tanker rolls, spills gasoline; I-80 shut down for more than six hours

BUCKHORN -- Gasoline spilled from an overturned tanker truck forced the closure of Interstate 80 between the Buckhorn and Lightstreet exits for more than six hours Sunday, authorities said. The tanker truck upset and rolled as it crossed onto the median of the highway after colliding with another vehicle in the eastbound lanes shortly after 4 p.m., emergency officials said. No serious injuries were reported in the accident, although officials were concerned about possible dangers posed by the gasoline spill. It was not known how much fuel had leaked or spilled, State Police said.

Pizza deliveryman looted student apartments overnight, cops say

BLOOMSBURG -- A pizza deliveryman paid an overnight visit to student apartments he knew would be unattended during winter break, stealing valuables and a TV before police collared him near the homes, charges say. Town police grabbed 20-year-old Alan H. Deitrich after a resident heard banging on her door in the middle of the night and phoned 911, police say. When officers arrived, Deitrich and another suspect were running off in the snow behind a student housing complex on Knapp Avenue about 2:30 a.m. Friday.

Man jailed for frying-pan attack

BERWICK -- A Berwick man clubbed another man over the head with a frying pan Thursday night, police say. Joshua Babb, 31, was drinking at 234 W. Eighth St. with a bunch of others when he became violent after being told he couldn't spend the night, witnesses told police. When asked to leave, Babb allegedly grabbed a frying pan and hit a 40-year-old man over the head with it, saying "I'm going to f--- him up!" The crowd chased Babb out onto the street where he allegedly threatened others with a glass bottle.

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