Residents Safe After 3 Homes In Perry South Catch Fire
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- At least seven people are without a home after a fire ripped through a Pittsburgh neighborhood early Thursday morning. The four-alarm fire destroyed three homes in Perry South.
As the sun rose, it became more clear how much damage was left behind on Kennedy Avenue between Marshall and Perrysville Avenues.
Pittsburgh fire crews said it was around 4:25 a.m. when the middle of three houses went up in flames. It quickly spread to the other two.
Aaron, who didn't want to give his last name, lives next door. He heard screams coming from outside and got his family out of the house.
"Barely. Like another two minutes and it would have been engulfed. Not even two minutes. By the time we got out everything was engulfed," he said while wrapped up in a blanket across the street.
According to firefighters, the people in the middle house had to call 911 from the roof and jump. They were checked at the scene by medics and were not injured.
"Fifteen years of my life. My work. Working hard. Feel like I did all that for nothing," Aaron said, looking at the damage.
The lady on the other side of the middle house had just left for work at 4:20 a.m. She said off-camera that there were no signs of a fire when she was outside.
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"When we get called, it is someone's worst day. We're here to solve problems and help take care of the residents," Pittsburgh Fire Chief Brian Kokkila said at the scene.
More than 70 firefighters were called in to put out the flames. Brian Edwards credited their work to make sure it didn't spread to more homes, including his dad's.
"I'm glad my dad is safe, but it's sad because some people are out of a home," Edwards said looking destruction.
With the amount of damage, the homes may be total losses.
"It don't look like there's anything we're going to be able to salvage. Everything is gone," Aaron said.
The Red Cross is assisting the people who lost everything.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
