Water Pressure Problems Plague Firefighters At Duquesne Apartment Building Blaze
DUQUESNE (KDKA) – The fire, which was declared under control at 5:30 p.m., broke out seven hours earlier in the Hilltop Parkview Manor apartments, which is a gated complex for low-income tenants in the city of Duquesne.
It was confined to one building, which has 24 units.
Three hours after it was contained, some tenants were expressing frustration and anger after management first offered to provide housing to the more than 60 residents displaced.
Later though, management withdrew the offer and never fully explained why.
KDKA's Lynne Hayes-Freeland Reports:
The Red Cross was on the scene, trying to help those affected find temporary shelter.
Thelma Stewart's daughter's apartment was damaged in the fire.
Stewart was angry at the apartment management.
"The Red Cross was here. They did more for them then the apartment complex did. They offered them vouchers to go to a shelter, or to get a room," said Stewart.
The fire started in a first floor apartment in the Laurel Building, but the fire marshal has not yet determined the exact cause.
Flames spread quickly after reaching the common roof. It caused heavy fire, water and smoke damage on the first floor. Most of the second floor apartments were also damaged; some, when the roof burned and collapsed.
Many of the tenants who live in the burned units do not have renters insurance.
Shanel Jackson said, "I'm going to my grandparents' house. That's where my children are; other than that, we have nowhere to go."
Talisha Bose said her niece's apartment was damaged by the flames. Bose told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti her "grandmother's ashes are in there," and she would like to get them out.
While the Fire Marshal said there were no fire hydrant problems, the Duquesne Fire chief admitted that fire hydrants in the area are dated, and as a result, they failed to provide good pressure at higher elevations. The apartment complex is located on a hillside.
Officials released this statement:
"There were no hydrant problems. According to the Duquesne Fire chief, the water hydrant system is dated and does not provide good pressure at high elevations."
Jackson said, "I believe they could have done more, and this fire could have been contained if the fire hydrants worked."
Sixty-six people were affected by the fire, including 40 children.
Several firefighters were treated for heat-related injuries.
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