PITTSBURGH – A four-alarm fire tore through a three-story apartment building on Forward Avenue Tuesday morning drawing a massive emergency response from multiple departments and restricting traffic.
According to the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire, crews were dispatched at 8:25 a.m. to 5680 Forward Ave., where heavy smoke and flames were reported coming from the roof of the more than 90-year-old wood-frame building.
Firefighters encountered dangerous conditions and worked quickly to evacuate residents, including several with mobility challenges.
Seventeen fire companies and 73 personnel battled the blaze for more than four-and-a-half hours. Officials said a secondary electrical fire was discovered in the basement, complicating the response. The fire was declared under control at 1:08 p.m.
No residents or firefighters were injured. Crews were able to rescue two cats from the building, while a third was found deceased.
City officials said approximately 30 residents have been displaced. The Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is coordinating with the American Red Cross to provide food, medical supplies, and emergency shelter at the Greenfield Rec Center.
Social workers with the Office of Community Health and Safety also responded to provide trauma support.
Community partners, including the Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse and the Salvation Army, assisted displaced residents and first responders with food, water, and shelter.
The Fire Investigation Unit is currently working to determine the cause of the fire.
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