Watch CBS News

'Never Seen A Fire Like This': Large Fire Damages Apartment Building In Lower Burrell

LOWER BURREL, Pa. (KDKA) - A large fire damaged an apartment building in Lower Burrell.

On Thursday, cell phone video of the fire at the Cedar Crest Apartments on Puckety Church Road showed large flames consuming the building, with flames shooting out of the roof.

"In all my life, I've never seen a fire like this," said witness Pat Fish

WATCH: Crews Fight Back Flames

"Oh, my gosh, they were real, real tall, especially in the middle there. It was just smoke. I just could not believe I was seeing what I was seeing," Fish added.

The Lower Burrell fire chief said everyone made it out of the apartment building, including all pets.

There were no injuries to firefighters, and the building should be salvageable, though the damage is excessive.

"I started smelling it and I came out," resident Betty Ann Smith said. "And then the corner of the building over here had smoke coming out of it and all of a sudden it was just a puff of fire."

WATCH: KDKA's Shelby Cassesse Report Live From The Apartment Building

The chief says the cause of the fire is under investigation, but there was not a sprinkler system in the 24-unit building.

The fire chief says while the third floor suffered the most damage, the first and second floors had significant smoke and water damage.

apartmentfire
(Photo Credit: KDKA)

Residents were able to go inside late on Thursday to salvage whatever was left.

The Red Cross is on scene assisting those impacted.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.