POLISH HILL (KDKA) – A raging fire in Polish Hill was so intense that firefighters had to back out of the building and the people who live there still cannot get back in.

A neighbor that first spotted smoke billowing out of the windows on the second floor of the six-unit apartment building on Bethoven Street.

At first, the other tenants had no idea they were in danger.

“My neighbor was running down saying, ‘Everyone get out of the apartment,’” Diane Weaver said.

Passing motorists were honking their horns to alert other residents to the fire.

“Smelled smoke, came outside and found out the back porch was on fire,” Nelson Totah said.

When the first trucks arrived at the scene, crews knew they were in for quite a fight.

Eventually, about 55 firefighters were battling the intense flames and thick smoke. They staked out a massive perimeter and even shut down the Bloomfield Bridge.

For now, several people are homeless, but they are thankful they made it out alive.

There is no official word on a cause right now. According to the fire chief, they have no reason to believe it is suspicious.

The Red Cross is assisting four adults with food and clothing at this time.

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