3-Alarm Millvale Row House Fire Displaces 17
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The fire started in the 400 block of Sample Street around 8 a.m. It quickly spread and affected nine families.
It took hours to get the fire under control. By the time it was out, several homes were damaged and a firefighter was hurt.
It didn't take more than a half hour for the fire to spread.
"We had a total of five houses on fire at one time," Millvale Volunteer Fore Department Asst Chief Carl Cavanaugh said. "The houses were so close together. It was all one common roof. It ran the roof of the original fire building."
"We woke up to flames, we woke up to smoke and then when we opened the door --all the firetrucks-- we asked if we should get out, we grabbed our animals and ran out of the house," Leigha Shaffer said.
"The attic was on fire when I got here. But, I know the roof caved in and there's a lot of water," Brittney Nard said.
A total of 13 adults and four children were left homeless as a result of the fire. The woman who called 911 praised the firefighters who responded.
Ilona Alrabadi lives across the street and smelled the smoke.
"I was on the phone with 911 and I was pounding on the door yelling, 'Fire,'" Ilona Alrabadi said. "The doors were already hot and smoke was coming out of the roof, in between the houses."
Alrabadi says the first firefighter arrived in minutes and she immediately told him there may be someone in the house where it started.
"Just out of nowhere, superhuman fireman showed up and he kicked the steel door in with one kick with his tennis shoes. He didn't even have his clothes on. He just had his regular street clothes on," Alrabadi said.
The woman and child who live there had left ten minutes before the fire and were accounted for, as was everyone else. One firefighter was treated for burns to his arm.
Neighbors are now trying to organize donations for the families affected by the fire. None of them had renters insurance. Anyone who would like to send aid to the victims of the fire should address it to North Hills Community Outreach at 416 Lincoln Avenue, 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15209. Officials request no clothing, furniture or toys be sent because they cannot store them.
Meanwhile, the Allegheny County fire marshal is investigating the cause.
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