The cause of a fire that severely damaged two homes in Coaldale Wednesday evening is under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal.

Firefighters rescued two people from the burning home at 44 E. Howard Ave. just before 7 p.m., according to Coaldale Fire Chief Steven Polischak.

Polischak said that one of them, a teenager, was taken by helicopter to a regional hospital. The teen’s condition is not known. The other, a man, was treated and released from St. Luke’s Miners Campus in Coaldale. Polischak said he had heard reports that the adult was attempting to retrieve the juvenile from the home.

Emergency personnel arrived to find heavy flames coming from rear of the building’s first and second floors.

Polischak said the fire spread to 46 E. Howard Ave., which was unoccupied and received severe damage.

Another home at 48 E. Howard Ave. was occupied and suffered minimal damage.

The 3-alarm fire brought between 15 and 20 fire companies, Polischak said.

He commended the response of all involved, saying that the effort stopped the flames from “consuming” more properties.

“There were multiple tasks at hand between trying to control the fire and trying to rescue the occupants,” he said. “We were able to accomplish both. We had a good outcome.”

The fire company’s officers and members extended their thanks in a Facebook post.

“We extend our deepest thanks to everyone who responded to the fire in our borough yesterday. To all first responders your dedication, teamwork, and bravery is outstanding. We’re proud to serve alongside such a strong community of first responders. To our community we also thank you for the out pouring support and donations to help keep us hydrated and as safe as possible.”

The post also asked anyone with footage to share it with the fire company.

A GoFundMe for the family was set up by the teenager’s mother, Angela Mazzei.

In her post, she noted that the family lost everything and that she just gave birth to a baby.

“We can use as much help as possible to try and get back on our feet,” she wrote.

Mazzei noted that the 13-year-old suffered second and third degree burns and is being treated at a burn trauma unit, while her fiancé was exposed to the fumes trying to help him.

She notes that in addition to the teen and baby, the couple has a 9-year-old.