Firefighters from three departments responded to battle a house fire in Worthington earlier today. The residents, Hal and Wilma Harp, escaped without injury but their home is a total loss.

Worthington Fire was toned out right around 12 noon on Saturday, July 25, to the Harp home on South Edward Street in Worthington.

The response was quick. Worthington Firefighters Mike Steward and Dustin Stahl responded to a medical run around 11 a.m. and had just returned to the fire station to complete paperwork when the tones sounded for a house fire with flames showing. The two each jumped into a firetruck and headed to the scene a few short blocks away.

Steward said when the two fire engines turned off Main Street onto Edwards, they could see the front porch in flames, a little over a block away. The house was engulfed.

Worthington Fire Chief Kyle Steward reported 17 firefighters responded, approximately eight from Worthington along with four to five each from the Switz City Fire Department and the Highland Township Fire Department.

Hal Harp, who has formerly served on the Worthington Town Council and on the Greene County Council, and his wife, Wilma, had safely exited the house, along with their family dog, before firefighters arrived.

Chief Steward said the house was estimated to be over 100 years old and it went quick. Mike Steward said it burned hot and fast. They both said it was a total loss.

A standard investigation will be completed but the cause of the fire is not suspicious.

Although it was a hot fire on a hot day, there were no injuries to fire personnel. Firefighters remained on the scene until around 3 p.m.