Fire forces evacuation of seniors complex
SCOTTDALE – An early morning fire caused the evacuation of a five-story senior citizens complex on Pearl Street Thursday. Scottdale Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Mike Chain said three people from the complex were treated for minor injuries at Excella Health Frick Hospital in Mount Pleasant and released.
He additionally said that the fire started at about 3:45 a.m. in apartment 206.
“Scottdale police were the first responders and had begun to evacuate the building when we arrived,” said Chain. “We were able to contain the fire in the apartment, but there was some water damage to the hallway and a lot of smoke.”
Westmoreland County Housing Authority spokesman Pete Dziacyk said the fire started when the resident who lives in apartment 206 was charging his electric cart.
“Several of the tenants have motorized carts,” said Dziacyk. “Apparently the resident in 206 was charging the cart and something malfunctioned.”
Dziacyk said there was a lot of fire, water and smoke damage to apartment 206 but the damage was contained to the one apartment because of the 8-inch solid concrete poured walls that separate each of the apartments.
“All physical damage was contained to the one unit,” said Dziacyk “with the exception of the unit across the hall that experienced some water damage.”
Dziacyk said all 60 residents had returned to the building about an hour after the fire began. He also said that another apartment was made available to the apartment 206 resident.
Chain said the apartment 206 resident pulled the fire alarm on the second floor, which signaled the police and fire department.
He also said when the Scottdale police started the evacuation process they were held back by heavy smoke.
“The residents were moved to a safe floor,” said Chain. “Everyone from the second floor up was evacuated to the lobby or to our firemen’s club.
Chain said the fire was knocked down in about 20 minutes. Along with Scottdale, fire departments from Mount Pleasant, Connellsville Township, Everson, Bullskin Township and New Haven responded. Uniontown and Connellsville Township were there for RIT (Rapid Intervention Team) and Greensburg Salvage.
Medic 10 and Mutual Aid Ambulance Service had at least six ambulances on the scene, according to Chain.