One treated after fighting fire
SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE – One man was treated for smoke inhalation after attempting to put out a fire that started Tuesday in his second floor apartment. Richard Spratt, 42, of 1603 S. Pittsburgh St., was taken to Highlands Hospital in Connellsville by Fayette EMS following the 6:48 p.m. fire at the apartment building.
John Shearer, South Connellsville Volunteer Fire Co. assistant chief, credited Spratt with taking measures to extinguish the blaze.
“He put it out,” said Shearer on Wednesday.
Spratt’s quick response, added Shearer, allowed for the fire to be confined in one room rather than spreading throughout the four-apartment complex.
Shearer said that the first floor apartment beneath Spratt’s apartment incurred some water damage while the other two were spared any damage.
However, Spratt and the six others living in the building had to find other accommodations until the exact cause of the fire has been determined by the state police fire marshal, who was on the scene Wednesday.
“The property owner had the power to the apartments shut off until we knew what caused the fire,” said Shearer.
Property owner, Robert Ward of South Connellsville, said Wednesday that the residents most affected by the fire would likely be out of their apartments for a lengthy period of time, while repairs are made to the building. Those that did not incur any fire or water damage will be permitted to return after an inspection of the site.
“No one will be moving back in until an inspector has been in,” said Ward.
The Red Cross, he added, has provided temporary accommodations for the building residents.