Fire destroys apartment building in Mather
Multiple people were injured early Saturday trying to escape a fire that engulfed an apartment building in Greene County as firefighters battled both the blaze and extreme cold for hours.
Firefighters from eight departments were called to 331 Third St. in the Mather neighborhood of Morgan Township about 2:30 a.m. and found the building in flames. Firefighters witnessed at least five people jumping from windows trying to escape to safety as crews arrived on scene.
Nearly two dozen people were living in the two-story, multi-unit apartment building at the time of the fire, and three of them were transported either by ambulance or medical helicopter to area hospitals, Greene County Emergency Management Director Richard Policz said. Others with minor injuries were driven to the hospital by family members or friends, Policz said.
The names and conditions of the victims were not immediately known, but Policz said everyone is expected to survive.
“Overall, the situation went much better than anticipated,” Policz said about the fact there were no fatalities and few injuries despite the ferocious nature of the fire coupled with the bitterly-cold conditions. “It’s unbelievable.”
Jefferson firefighters posted photographs on social media showing flames shooting from the windows and heavy smoke pouring from the building. The situation was compounded by the frigid temperatures that dropped into the negative teens, creating dangerously cold conditions for firefighters battling the blaze with ice forming around the scene.
Policz said the apartment building was destroyed by the fire and an excavator was at the scene Saturday demolishing portions of the structure and digging through the debris.
The fire led to a massive response with Jefferson volunteer firefighters being assisted at the scene by departments from Waynesburg-Franklin, Clarksville, Carmichaels-Cumberland, Nemacolin, Rices Lands, East Bethlehem and Marianna. There were also ambulance crews from Jefferson, Nemacolin, Rices Landing, Washington County and Fayette-Greene.
First responders used the nearby Mather Christian Church as a command post and staging area. Policz said he and Jefferson fire Chief Joe Petek were meeting with other emergency officials Saturday morning to debrief on the situation. Policz thanked the church’s members for opening the doors for first responders to have a place to congregate and coordinate the operation.
He also applauded the work of the Salvation Army, American Red Cross and Jefferson Volunteer Fire Co. Auxiliary, all of which were on scene providing relief with warming shelters and hot food and beverages for the firefighters.
The Red Cross was assisting two families displaced by the fire, Policz said, while other residents were staying with relatives or friends. Clothing and other donations from the community also were pouring into collection points at the Jefferson Volunteer Fire Hall and Mather Christian Church to assist the victims, Policz said.
Emergency officials asked people to avoid the area due to the dangerous conditions caused by the ice around the scene.
The state police fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire, which was not immediately known.