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1 Dead, 1 Injured In Armstrong County Fire

KITTANNING (KDKA) – A woman was killed and a man was rushed to the hospital after a fire in Armstrong County.

Flames broke out around 11 p.m. at the home in the 1300-block of Sirwell Street in Kittanning.

When firefighters arrived, Russell Alexander was in the street suffering from burns.

He told them that a woman, 54-year-old Sharon Mangus, was still inside along with their three dogs and two cats.

Mangus and the animals died in the blaze.

Alexander's brother told KDKA that Alexander was battling lung cancer.

Mangus, a friend of Russell's late wife, was caring for him.

Kevin Alexander believes the fire in his brother's small home spread quickly because of oxygen tanks inside.

Firefighters had difficulty getting water to the scene because the house is located at the top of a steep hill.

The flames were so intense that the first floor ceiling collapsed and firefighters were unable to go inside.

Mangus was pronounced dead at the scene by the Armstrong County coroner. The cause of death was ruled to be smoke inhalation.

Alexander was taken to West Penn Hospital with burns and smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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