The Mediterranean-style home built by the Ira Feinour family in the late 1990s no longer sits high on a hill off Route 309, New Tripoli.

The house was destroyed by a wind-fueled, two-alarm fire late April 7.

According to New Tripoli Fire Chief Peter Christ on April 10, firefighters were called to the scene at 10:07 p.m. last Friday night.

Owner Bruce F. Lindenberg purchased the house at 6962 Lochland Road in 2000, according to Lehigh County Assessment records.

Lindenberg, an airline pilot, according to Christ, was not at home when the fire started.

Christ also was out of town the night of the fire.

New Tripoli Deputy Fire Chief Gary Kuntz Jr., first at the scene, called in additional firefighters from Lynnport, Germansville, Weisenberg, Fogelsville, Neffs, Trexlertown and Kempton.

Alburtis Fire Company responded with its Rapid Intervention Team and the Nancy Run Fire Company cascade unit answered the call to refill airpacks used by the firefighters.

In total, some 40 to 50 firefighters, including 19 firefighters and fire police from New Tripoli, tried valiantly to save the house using water drawn repeatedly from nearby ponds and transported to the scene by tankers.

“The top floors collapsed,” Christ said, adding the fire was under control at 1:03 a.m. the next morning.

Firefighters remained at the scene through the early morning hours monitoring the situation.

State Police Fire Marshal Cpl. William Brett, of the Dublin Barracks, is in charge of the investigation.