PITTSBURGH — A fire tore through multiple buildings along Penn Avenue, leaving at least 12 people without a home.
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Officials say five buildings were damaged. No injuries were reported.
Fire crews believe the flames started in one home, where the damage appears most severe.
Two roommates, Jarred Reccek and Katie Cincotti, lived on the second floor and said they noticed something was wrong almost immediately.
“Seeing the smoke go from the white-ish grey cloud to full black, I was like, we’re done. Like, we gotta get out, this place is over,” Cincotti said.
Katie said there was only time to grab a few essentials before evacuating.
“I didn’t manage to grab much, I kind of just have the clothes on my back,” Cincotti said.
The fire broke out shortly before 3:30 p.m., according to Assistant Fire Chief Brian Kokkila.
About 50 firefighters responded, working to contain flames that quickly spread between closely spaced homes.
“We believe most of that impact was a result of the wind-driven and the construction of and the tight spacing of these homes,” Kokkila said.
Crews remained on scene, cutting into walls and checking for hotspots to prevent the fire from reigniting.
“That’s why you are hearing the chainsaws, that’s why you are seeing pulling of the walls and the interior of the buildings apart,” Kokkila said.
The displaced residents are now working to figure out their next steps.
“I don’t think it’s fully hit me despite crying about it, but it’s, yeah, because that’s everything we owned is gone,” Reccek said.
Despite the loss, both roommates said they are grateful everyone made it out safely.
“Like we said, everyone is OK, and that is all we can really ask for, I guess,” Reccek said.
The Pittsburgh Fire Investigative Unit is working to determine what caused the fire.
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