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4-Alarm Fire Causes Significant Damage To Brighton Heights Building

BRIGHTON HEIGHTS (KDKA) – A four-alarm fire heavily damaged a home in Pittsburgh's Brighton Heights section this afternoon.

According to emergency dispatchers, the fire broke out at an apartment building in the 1700-block of Termon Avenue around 12:45 p.m.

Heavy smoke and fire were shooting out of the roof by 1:15 p.m.

Jazz Prude rushed home to the news that her apartment was up in flames. Eventually, she collapsed on the ground in front of the burning building.

"I worked hard for all my stuff and it's just gone," she said. "Everything's gone."

Furniture, clothing, appliances - it all went up in flames.

Prude, like many tenants, doesn't have rental insurance. It's a total loss.

Although the Red Cross and Salvation Army will offer some temporary help, they watched in horror as firefighters sprayed down the apartment.

"They're in my place now, so all the water damage," said tenant Erin Martin.

"There's significant damage to the building," said Chief Darryl Jones, of the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau. "I doubt if anyone can stay here tonight."

It could have been a lot worse if it hadn't been for Brian Pfender.

"Banging on the doors really hard, telling them, 'There's a fire, get out of the building,'" he said.

Pfender, a heating and air conditioning guy, was driving down the highway when he spotted the flames. He quickly pulled over and started getting people out.

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