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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A wind-swept house fire in the North End section of the city displaced a family Tuesday afternoon after a leaf blower exploded and flames spread inside.</p><p>There were no injuries reported, but a pet cat is unaccounted for.</p><p>About an hour after flames were reported, firefighters were still at 441 N. Washington St. spraying down hot spots.</p><p>Wilkes-Barre Fire Department Chief Jay Delaney said a call came in to emergency responders at 1:04 p.m., and city firefighters arrived at 1:09 to find the home on fire. The blaze started on the exterior of the house and worked its way inside, causing damage to the first and second floors.</p><p>Delaney said two adults and four animals were inside, and the adults and two dogs and a cat out got out safely. The whereabouts of a second cat were not known. A child who lives in the home was at school during the blaze.</p><p>Firefighters were initially worried about damage to nearby homes, Delaney said, but only 441 N. Washington St. was affected.</p><p>No firefighters were hurt, but Delaney said battling the fire was difficult due to the heat of the day.</p><p>The home&#8217;s owner, Louis Honeywell, 50, explained the blaze started while he was working on a malfunctioning leaf blower.</p><p>Honeywell said his leaf blower wouldn&#8217;t start. He tried taking out the spark plug and replacing it, but the blower caught on fire when he pulled the starter cord.</p><p>&#8220;I put it down and ran inside to tell my wife to call 911,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I came back out to spray (the leaf blower) with a garden hose and it exploded.&#8221;</p><p>Honeywell said the fire quickly spread up the side of the house.</p><p>Delaney said the American Red Cross was assisting Honeywell and his family, providing temporary lodging for them at a local hotel.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">This house at 441 N. Washington St., Wilkes-Barre, was damaged Tuesday after a leaf blower exploded and flames spread inside the residence. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_house-fire-3.jpg</photo0><caption0>This house at 441 N. Washington St., Wilkes-Barre, was damaged Tuesday after a leaf blower exploded and flames spread inside the residence. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_fire-2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wilkes-Barre firefighters, rescuers, public works employees and utility workers are shown at the scene of Tuesday&#8217;s fire at 441 N. Washington St. in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_fire-2-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Wilkes-Barre firefighters, rescuers, public works employees and utility workers are shown at the scene of Tuesday&#8217;s fire at 441 N. Washington St. in Wilkes-Barre. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Patrick Kernan</p><p>pkernan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Patrick Kernan at 570-991-6386 or on Twitter @PatKernan</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre fire caused by exploding leaf blower; one animal missing