Structure Fire At Crafton Towers Causes Tenants To Evacuate
PITTSBURGH (KDKA)- When the fire broke out in the Crafton Towers, 120 residents were thrown into immediate chaos. Most of the people in the building are senior citizens and some can't walk. Many passed through thick smoke in hallways to get out.
"There was a lot of smoke. It was really bad. It was burning my lungs, throat and my eyes," said resident Beverly Cohran.
Claudia Adams, a resident of Crafton Towers, was inside and had a hard time breathing due to the smoke.
"When I opened the door, it was hard to breathe. There was a lot of smoke. There was a lady down the end and she was blind and couldn't walk."
Four residents were reportedly hanging out their windows in the back of the building. Firefighters made a quick rescue with a ladder truck.
"I believe one rescue down the ladder and the other came through the building we rescued them through the building," said Crafton Fire Department Chief Mike Crown.
The fire started in a second floor apartment. The resident said he came home to find the place filling up with smoke and flames. Chuck Bouzon lives in the third floor apartment directly above.
"I'm blind. It was not a nice experience."
"Trying to get those people rescued in place or rescued and getting them out of harm's way is our chief concern and attacking the fire, knocking the fire down and making sure everybody is safe," said Chief Crown.
One person was taken to the hospital, others were treated at the scene and everyone was accounted for including Joyce Winterhalter's cat.
"I had to leave her in the apartment. She wouldn't come. The fireman went up and saved her and brought her down to me."
The Crafton Fire Department and Management recently had a fire drill at the building. They say the practice helped keep injuries and other problems to a minimum during the fire.
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