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Blazing Fire Collapses Building In Kittanning Overnight

KITTANNING (KDKA) -- A building collapsed in Kittanning overnight after catching on fire on Orr Avenue.

kittanning fire
(Photo Credit: KDKA Photojournalist Tim Lawson)

Neighbors say flames were shooting out of the abandoned building in Kittanning.

kittanning fire 2
(Photo Courtesy Calvin Johns)

The rubble from the building collapse was easily observable by KDKA crews. Neighbors told KDKA the fire hit several other homes in the area.

The Red Cross was helping residents out, families were giving each other hugs and there were tears in some eyes. The fire displaced four adults and nine children out on the street.

Part of the fire caused a transformer to blow because of the winds when the fire hit it. As a result, there is no power on this block.

We know that at some point, fire crews had to pull out and away from the scene because they were afraid that it was going to collapse, and that's exactly what happened here.

"We went through our second alarm, our third alarm, fourth alarm, fifth alarm, sixth alarm and seventh," Kittanning fire chief Earl Kline said.

There are no reports of injuries so far.

"God was looking out for us. Nobody was injured and that's a good thing," the chief said.

Crews will be out this weekend surveying the damage.

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