Spring Hill Fire Kills Infant, Injures 5 Others

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A 1-year-old is dead after an apartment fire at the Three Rivers Manor apartments in Spring Hill. At least six people had to be taken to local hospitals to be treated for injuries related to the fire and smoke inhalation.

Across the street from building 2115 at Three Rivers Manor, there's a makeshift memorial for Nina Risher consisting of stuffed animals and candles. The 1-year-old died after the basement apartment where she lived caught on fire late Sunday night.

A public information officer says the call came in at 11:41 p.m.

"I lost my grandbabies, and it's really hard to take," said Carl Jordan, grandfather of the two infants in the fire, including Nina Risher.

Referring to the gates that cover the windows of the basement apartment, Jordan said, "This complex should be doing something…take those cages off those windows."

Jordan fell to his knees as he reflected on the tragedy. Nina died as a result of the fire and her sister, a toddler, is in critical condition. Jordan said he wants to know how the fire started.

"They should have been able to get in there and get those kids out," he said. "That's a death trap itself, with those gates up there.

"They were little babies," he cried. "Somebody needed to get to them, in a hurry."

Neighbors remembered seeing Nina Risher and her mother and sister walking around the neighborhood.

"She's always carrying the baby, walking around," said Bobbie North, who lives nearby. "I've lost a child before...not due to this, but I've lost a child and that's sad, and that's something the mother has to go through now, and it's not going to be easy."

Due to the smoke damage, no one can live in any of the 18 units in the building.

Monday evening a crowd stood together outside of the apartment building. They prayed, held candles and released balloons.

"Our community is hurting," said Krista Moses. "Our people are hurting, we are suffering."

The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced families.

There is also a GoFundMe page set up for the family at gofundme.com.

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