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East Pittsburgh Fire Damages 3 Row Houses, 5 People Displaced

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EAST PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Five people are looking for a place to stay after a Thursday morning fire spread quickly throughout three row houses.

The fire broke out just before 3 a.m. on Howard Street in East Pittsburgh.

Neighbors said no one was hurt and everyone got out in time.

"I just thought, 'How much time do I have?' Do I have time to grab my dog?'" said Julie Chantz.

Chantz lived in one of the row houses and told KDKA News she woke up after sensing a very bright light.

"I was trying to get my boyfriend up and he was really groggy and I just said, 'Fire! Fire! Fire! Get out! Get out! Get out!'"

Chantz said that bright light was actually orange flames shooting out of the back of her neighbor's house. The flames quickly spread to her house and the row house on the opposite side, collapsing their roofs and tearing down power lines.

"The neighbors are elderly and so that's good they got out safely and I know they have some pets that probably didn't survive and so I feel badly for them," said Chantz.

Despite the loss, Chantz said she's trying to remain optimistic and find her three cats.

"I know we'll get through. It's just a fire. It can be rebuilt," she said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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