A raging blaze of undetermined origin roared through a double-block house in Schuylkill Township Sunday. Flames sent seven residents fleeing for their lives and destroyed everything both families owned just weeks before Christmas.

The Schuylkill Communications Center dispatched fire companies and emergency responders from throughout the region at 5:45 p.m. for a report of a working structure fire at 173 Sunny Drive, Mary D.The home has been occupied for about four years by Jeremy and Jodi Denning; son, 5; daughter, 9; and Jodi's grandmother, Illomay Nelson. All escaped unharmed, although Nelson was taken to St. Luke's Hospital-Miners Campus, Coaldale, for observation and possible smoke inhalation. A family dog also escaped unharmed.The stubborn blaze also engulfed the adjacent home, 174 Sunny Drive, occupied by Pete and Ida Kutash, one of whom is confined to a wheelchair. The couple was able to make their way out of the house and sought refuge at a neighbor's home across the street.Fast movingRelatives and neighbors said whatever happened took place in a flash. The entire Kutash/Denning building seemed to explode in flames, said those on scene."I was just sitting here and the whistle went off," said Rosalind "Pixie" Hosler, daughter of Nelson and mother of Jodi Denning. Hosler lives just a few doors down the street. When she realized the fire was across the street, "I ran out screaming," she said. She quickly realized her family was safe but feared for the Kutash couple, since a wheelchair evacuation can take some time."He has a lift. I was so worried about them," said Hosler.Another neighbor said she was alerted by Denning's loud screams."We heard Jodi yelling and knew something was wrong," said Paula Masscotte. "I just got my slippers on and ran out the door. I heard the pop the glass breaking and could see flames out the back. From where I was I could only see the sides and back."Fortunately, Masscotte's home wasn't touched by flames. She immediately went to Hosler's house to offer assistance.All contents goneBattling the blaze became extremely dangerous as the structure weakened. At 6:43 p.m., the fire department blasted a loud evacuation alarm, alerting all firefighters to abandon interior assignments and exit the structure immediately.The smoky blaze spread quickly, engulfing not only both floors of both homes, but a two-story garage annex."That was Jeremy's man cave," Hosler said. "He had a jukebox, pool table, large-screen TV and refrigerator."She said both families lost everything they owned."Jodi and my mom had just finished Christmas shopping. All the gifts were wrapped and ready to go. They were probably stored in the man cave. Plus this month is the birthday for both kids, too" Hosler said.Hosler's sister, Rochelle Nelson Lazarchick, rushed over from Tamaqua when she heard the fire was at the home of her mother and niece."This is something," she said. "They had just finished wrapping the Christmas gifts."Although details are unclear, those at the scene indicated the Denning family and Kutash couple likely have fire insurance to cover at least some of the loss.Fast responseMany expressed comments about how fast the building became engulfed.Mary D Fire Company is located just a few blocks away from the site.However, neighbors said the blaze seemed to have a good head start and it would have been impossible to save the double home.In fact, Masscotte had words of praise for the professionalism displayed by the volunteer firefighters."They did a really good job in getting it under control," Masscotte said.For purposes of records and reporting, there was confusion as to the actual address of the houses destroyed by the blaze.Neighbors noted that house addresses in Mary D were assigned numbers chronologically as structures were built, not according to which side of the street they were on. Therefore, house numbers do not follow even-odd configurations seen in most other communities. The affected houses are 173 and 174, but are side by side.Among those responding were fire companies from Mary D, Brockton, Tamaqua, Tuscarora, Coaldale, Pottsville, Yorkville, Hometown, New Ringgold, Port Carbon, New England Valley, Mar Lin and Kaska, along with ambulances and rescue units from Tamaqua and surrounding towns.The location of the house necessitated use of tanker trucks. Two aerial ladders also were summoned. The cause is under investigation and a state police fire marshal was expected to arrive on scene.