Blaze guts apartments
HARRISVILLE — Five adults and two children, some wearing only pajamas, fled into freezing temperatures early this morning when fire swept through their apartment building in East Mercer Street, authorities said.
No one was injured but two cats reportedly perished in the fire that started shortly before 2 a.m.
The state police fire marshal is investigating the blaze that appeared to have started in an empty upstairs apartment in back of the two-story wood structure.
The fire gutted the building at 607 E. Mercer St., which housed a flower shop years ago.
“The fire was through the roof in back when we got there,” said Chief Steve Bickel of the Harrisville Volunteer Fire Department. “We hit it from outside until it was knocked down enough to send (crews) inside.”
All the tenants there at the time were accounted for, fire officials said. None of the occupants appeared to have had time to dress for the cold.
“They mostly got out with whatever clothes they had on at the time,” Bickel said. “No time for coats.”
“Some were wearing PJs,” said another firefighter.
A Superior Ambulance crew provided blankets for the shivering tenants. The local chapter of the American Red Cross was also called to assist the victims with emergency needs.
Seven cats were rescued from at least one of the upstairs apartments. Two other cats died.
Authorities said the building, owned by Eric Snyder of Harrisville, included four apartments — one on the first floor and three on the second floor.
All of the apartments were leased.
“All of the tenants were home except where the fire started,” Bickel said. “She was at work.
Investigators believe the fire started in the back bedroom of that second-floor apartment.
Flames quickly spread to the other two upstairs apartments. The first-floor apartment sustained severe water damage.
Crews had to use tankers to get water there. The borough has no fire hydrants. Firefighters used the Allegheny Mineral Corp.'s limestone quarry about a mile away for their water source.
Homes on both sides of the building and a garage in back were not damaged.
About 75 firefighters from nine departments in three counties battled the blaze.
The fire was under control shortly after 3 a.m. but crews had to contend with hot spots that kept popping up.
Harrisville firefighters did not return to their station until after 6 a.m.
Assisting were departments from Marion Township, Eau Claire and Slippery Rock in Butler County; Pine Township, Mercer, Grove City and Springfield Township in Mercer County and Clintonville in Venango County.
