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Luzerne County purchases Hanover Township property for record storage

Draft financial report shows Wilkes-Barre ended year with $3.3 million deficit

<p>WILKES-BARRE TWP. &#8212; A fire at 83 Nicholson St. late Friday afternoon left two people homeless and claimed the lives of their pets.</p><p>Richard Tomko, a resident of the single-family brick home, looked on as flames emanated from the top of the building.</p><p>Tomko said he and his wife, Sharon, had been out when the home caught fire, and both were safe.</p><p>Visibly worried about his pets before learning that they perished in the fire, Tomko said, &#8220;I had birds, a dog and a cat, I don&#8217;t know what happened to them.&#8221;</p><p>On site were fire and emergency personnel from Ashley, Plains Township, Nanticoke, Hanover Township and Wilkes-Barre Township.</p><p>Dozens of firefighters fought the blaze, pouring water onto the top of the structure.</p><p>It initially appeared that firefighters were able to quell the flames quickly upon their arrival, but the fire reignited.</p><p>Dozens of residents filled the street, many commenting that they hoped the pets were somehow safe and that the residents of the home would find a safe and warm place to stay on such a cold night, when the temperature was expected to drop to a low of 20 degrees.</p><p>The American Red Cross is providing emergency assistance for food and clothing to the family, according to a news release from Dave Skutnik, Red Cross regional communications manager.</p><p>Township fire officials could not be reached later for comment on the cause of the fire and extent of damage.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Fire crews battle a blaze at 83 Nicholson St. in Wilkes-Barre Township on Friday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012316Fire5.jpg</photo0><caption0>Fire crews battle a blaze at 83 Nicholson St. in Wilkes-Barre Township on Friday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012316Fire4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Fire crews battle a blaze at a home at 83 Nicholson St. in Wilkes-Barre Township on Friday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012316Fire4.jpg</photo1><caption1>Fire crews battle a blaze at a home at 83 Nicholson St. in Wilkes-Barre Township on Friday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012316Fire1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Angie Mayls, daughter of Richard Tomko, of Plains Township, is overcome by emotion upon arriving at her father&#8217;s house on Nicholson Street in Wilkes-Barre Township on Friday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012316Fire1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Angie Mayls, daughter of Richard Tomko, of Plains Township, is overcome by emotion upon arriving at her father&#8217;s house on Nicholson Street in Wilkes-Barre Township on Friday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012316Fire3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Richard Tomko watches firemen battle a blaze at his home on Nicholson Street in Wilkes-Barre Township on Friday. Tomko has lived at the residence for over 25 years. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012316Fire3.jpg</photo3><caption3>Richard Tomko watches firemen battle a blaze at his home on Nicholson Street in Wilkes-Barre Township on Friday. Tomko has lived at the residence for over 25 years. </caption3><photoCredit3>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_WBTwpFire_2_toned-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Flames erupt through a window at 83 Nicholson St. in Wilkes-Barre Township as firefighters arrive on the scene of a residential structure fire around 3:30 p.m. Friday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_WBTwpFire_2_toned-1.jpg</photo4><caption4>Flames erupt through a window at 83 Nicholson St. in Wilkes-Barre Township as firefighters arrive on the scene of a residential structure fire around 3:30 p.m. Friday. </caption4><photoCredit4>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012316Fire2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A Hanover Township fireman climbs up the ladder to battle the top floor of a structure fire at 83 Nicholson St. in Wilkes-Barre Township on Friday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012316Fire2.jpg</photo5><caption5>A Hanover Township fireman climbs up the ladder to battle the top floor of a structure fire at 83 Nicholson St. in Wilkes-Barre Township on Friday. </caption5><photoCredit5>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_WBTwpFire_1_toned-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Flames erupt through a window at 83 Nicholson St. in Wilkes-Barre Township as firefighters arrive on the scene of a residential structure fire around 3:30 p.m. Friday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_WBTwpFire_1_toned-1.jpg</photo6><caption6>Flames erupt through a window at 83 Nicholson St. in Wilkes-Barre Township as firefighters arrive on the scene of a residential structure fire around 3:30 p.m. Friday. </caption6><photoCredit6>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit6></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Family pets perished in the blaze</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

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Update: Wilkes-Barre Township couple displaced after blaze at their Nicholson Street home