A fire of unknown origin on North Hampton Road just north of North Hampton kept Pike Township fire crews busy Wednesday (September 8) afternoon.

The fire was at 4308 North Hampton Road at the rear of the property. There were numerous old pallets, old vehicles and many other scrap items at the site of the fire.

“I started into the house and the ground shook – BOOM – and I didn’t think nothing of it,” said property owner Bob Smith. “That fella over there [pointing to a North Hampton Police Officer] told me there’s smoke and I saw all the smoke and I said ‘Oh, No’ and had my girls call the fire department.”

Smith said he moved a van from the area of the fire but “couldn’t move the truck – it was already on fire.”

Pike Township EMS Chief Cliff Christy described it as an “out of control burn,” but would not speculate if it was the result of an illegal burn. “I doubt if we’ll ever know what happened.”

Smith insisted he was not burning items. “I don’t know what happened,” he said.