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Neighbors: Discarded Cigarette May Have Sparked Scott Twp. Blaze

SCOTT TOWNSHIP (KDKA) - A raging fire damaged three homes in Scott Township on Wednesday.

It happened so fast that some people escaped with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.

Now, the fire marshal is trying to figure out what started the blaze.

Neighbors said that right before the fire started they saw one of the women that lives inside of a duplex out on the front porch smoking a cigarette.

Then, they said they saw the flames erupt.

Today, the fire trucks were gone and the flames were out, but the three houses remain.

Tonya Calhoun lives in one of the affected homes. Her cancer medication and cats were lost among everything else.

"We don't have [any] clothes. Everything's gone, everything's gone," Calhoun said.

Fire officials said what she and the others who escaped do have is their lives and they can thank onlookers who saw what was going on.

"I [saw] the flames through the picture window through the curtains and that's when I ran," Ron Mixter said. "She opens that door, I go back and help the lady out of the house."

Four people were taken to Saint Clair Hospital for issues related to anxiety, stress and the cold temperatures.

They're all expected to be okay and the Salvation Army is assisting them.

The fire marshal continues to investigate the cause, but they are looking into the neighbors' account of a discarded cigarette igniting the fire.

In total, three homes were damaged in the fire.

One has moderate damage, the other is a total loss and the third was heavily damaged.

Some of the affected people were able to be escorted in by the fire department last night to retrieve some of their things.

However, it's unclear if and when they will be allowed back inside.

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