Smokehouse and adjacent shed go up in flames in eastern Berks

A smokehouse went up in flames late Monday along with an adjacent shed in the Longswamp Township village of Hancock, fire officials said.

The fire at 34 N. Park Ave. was initially called in by a resident who reported a lot of smoke in the area, Topton Fire Company Chief Jason Robinson said Tuesday. While crews were responding, they were alerted by dispatchers that a large shed was on fire.

Crews arrived to find the shed consumed by fire. They learned the homeowners had been smoking meat in a smokehouse next to the shed.

Crews quickly controlled the flames, preventing the fire from spreading to the nearby house and other structures, Robinson said. They remained on the scene for an extended period putting out hot spots.

The smokehouse, described as the size of an outhouse, burned to the ground, leaving no evidence behind for investigators to determine what caused the blaze.

The fire was deemed accidental, the chief said.

Source: Berkshire mont