Cause Of 2-Alarm McKees Rocks Fire Under Investigation
MCKEES ROCKS (KDKA)- Crews rushed to a home in McKees Rocks early Tuesday morning, as flames were shooting from the roof.
The fire started around 2:15 a.m. at a house in the 1100-block of Church Avenue. When crews arrived on scene, flames were shooting from the top of the house.
Fire crews worked hard to keep the fire from spreading to a second home, which housed several apartments. However, flames scorched a bit of the second house, damaging the roof.
"The entire front of the building was a ball of fire," said McKees Rocks Fire Chief Nick Radoycis. "It was an intense fire."
The fire marshal has been called to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire.
A couple inside the home where the fire started was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Firefighters believe the owner also suffered some chest pain.
KDKA-TV's Amy Wadas spoke with the couple when they returned to the home to see if there was anything left to salvage. They said they woke up to a glass window breaking and got out when the smoke alarm went off.
They've only lived in the home for four years after moving back to the area from Colorado.
They believe the cause of the fire was no accident.
Chief Radoycis said the area of the fire has seen of a rash of arson recently.
"We've been on this corner about 25 to 30 times. These empty lots were buildings at one point, people have been setting them on fire. We're very familiar with this neighborhood," he said.
The fire was under control about an hour after it started. The house where the fire started is a total loss.
Neighbors say two vacant homes once stood in an empty lot only to burn down from arson a few years ago.
The fire marshal says they are looking at the back of the home as the origin of this fire. However, the cause of this fire is yet to be determined.
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