PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A firefighter was injured while fighting a fire in Beltzhoover Thursday morning.

The fire started in a home along Curtin Avenue.

No one lives in the house, but firefighters did not realize that when they arrived on the scene. Also of concern were items that were stored in the house.

The house is owned by 84-year-old Leona Morton. But for the past year, she has been living with her granddaughter.

The woman’s son says his mother collects antiques, but firefighters saw the inside as a fire hazard.

“There was a fire in the rear of the structure behind me that was contained to the kitchen area. I would say they’re hoarders; I mean to put it nicely, they were hoarders and there’s debris stacked from the floor almost to the ceiling,” said Chief Terry Cerchiaro, of the Pittsburgh Fire Department. “Our crews had to crawl into the debris, in through it and around it. If there was somebody in there, and we could have confirm it, was going to be a tough rescue as far as whether or not to send firefighters that deep into building because of the debris.”

The woman and her family were at the scene.

One firefighter was taken to Mercy Hospital with a hand injury.

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