Fire At Penn Twp. Townhouse Complex Displaces 11
PENN TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- Several fire crews were called out to Walton Crossing in Penn Township, Westmoreland County Wednesday morning.
When crews got on scene around 2:45 a.m., heavy fire was coming out of a middle unit, in a row of about six townhouses in the 2000 block of Trial Side Court.
The fire is believed to have started on the back porch of the middle unit. It quickly spread to the units on either side. Firefighters estimated the flames were 20 feet high when they arrived at the scene.
Several fire crews and tankers were called to the scene to stop the fire from spreading.
"The fire was contained to the deck area, which is on the second floor of the main fire apartment. All the other ones are smoke damage. We had high [carbon monoxide] readings, we evacuated everybody just as a precaution. The Red Cross is going to take care of them," Claridge Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robert Bankosh said.
Neighbors said in addition to the fiery scene, they also heard what sounded like a propane tank exploding.
"I heard what I thought was thunder and evidently it was an explosion, because some of the other neighbors heard it too," Barbara Kovacs said.
There were no reports of injuries or entrapment.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it is not believed to be suspicious.
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