JT blaze is ruled accidental
A Jim Thorpe blaze that left a family homeless and a son hospitalized has been ruled an accident.
Jim Thorpe Fire Chief Bill Diehm said today that a state police fire marshal has determined Tuesday night's fire at 302 South Ave. was accidental.Kathy and George Hiller escaped the blaze with George having to jump from a front porch roof onto the sidewalk.Kathy and the family dog, Panzer, did not sustain injuries.George was taken to Gnaden Huetten in Lehighton and later driven by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital, where he remains in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit with burns to his face, hands and chest, the hospital reported Thursday morning.The community has banded together to collect clothing and necessities for the mother and son.The Red Cross has stepped in to help the Hillers along with the Jim Thorpe Sportsmen's Club by starting a collection."My friend George Hiller and his mother's house burned down. Lost everything, got out with only the clothing on their backs," said club President Don Vincler.Donations can be dropped off at Jim Thorpe Sportsmen's Club at 1 Lentz Trail, Jim Thorpe. George wears extra large or extra large tall sized shirts and 34x36 sized jeans. Kathy wears large sized shirts, size 12 pants and size 9 shoes.Cash and check donations can be mailed to Jim Thorpe Sportsmen's Club, P.O. Box 342, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229. Make checks to Jim Thorpe Sportsmen's Club, with Hiller fund written in the memo."I will personally make sure all funds donated gets to George and his mother," Vincler said.Operation School and Career Wear of Carbon County delivered clothing to the family Thursday night, and a GoFundMe site has been created for the Hillers with $3,405 of $5,000 already collected since Thursday."Your contributions will go a long way to help get them back on their feet again. What a great community to pull together and help those in need," said fund creator Dawn Varner.The website can be found at