2 Escape Late-Night Monessen Fire After Being Trapped Inside Home
MONESSEN, Pa. (KDKA) -- A man and woman both escaped a late-night house fire after being trapped inside their home in Monessen.
The fire broke out along State Road in Monessen late Sunday night. When Monessen's fire chief and two police officers arrived on the scene, they discovered the fire was "horrific."
"The amount of fire, the amount of thick smoke, it was impossible to see anything in front of you," said Chief Delmar Hepple.
Before crews arrived, Hepple and the officers found the man outside of the house. The woman was heard screaming for help.
"You couldn't get in the window," said Hepple. "We tried any way a couple of times but we lost grip."
The enemies in this battle were time and how the home was constructed.
"Metal roof, brick home, it was incredibly hot," said Hepple.
With desperate seconds ticking away, Hepple made the call.
"You abandon the fire fighting and you go to rescue mode," he said. "We had two guys dive into the widow, pull her over to the window and we brought her out over the window ledge."
The woman was pulled from what would have been certain death. Both the man and woman were flown to Pittsburgh-area hospitals for treatment.
The state fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.
