Fire at the Arnold Manor public high-rise will prevent 24 residents from returning for an undetermined time | TribLIVE.com

2022-09-17 07:26:58 By : Ms. Echo Zhang

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The 76-unit Arnold Manor public housing high-rise was evacuated Thursday afternoon when fire broke on the fourth floor, and an official said residents in 18 units won’t be able to return for an undetermined time.

Many wheelchair-bound residents were carried down the stairs by firefighters. One resident was helped to safety through a window and down a ladder.

All residents remained out of their apartments as of 5:30 p.m. Thursday as housing authority crews assessed damages and worked to restore power.

Arnold Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 public information officer Chris O’Leath said one firefighter sustained an ankle injury and a few residents complained of bumps and bruises as part of the evacuation, but no major injuries occurred.

The American Red Cross is assisting 24 residents from the 18 impacted units. There are 70 people living in the complex, according to O’Leath.

O’Leath said some of the displaced residents plan on staying with family members, and a majority of the residents were permitted to go back into their apartments Thursday night.

He said the fire began at apartment No. 411 and was mostly contained to that unit. A man who lived there was not inside at the time of the fire, O’Leath said

Apartments 511 and 611, the ones directly above it, also sustained damage. Fire alarms began to go off about 2 p.m.

“It was a daylight fire, so most of the equipment coming initially was lightly staffed,” O’Leath said. “When the crews got here, we didn’t see anything initially. A resident came down and said, ‘There’s a fire on the fourth floor.’

“The crew entering (the building) confirmed that there was smoke. Shortly after that, fire broke through the windows on the floor.”

Crews were able to get water from the trucks to knock the fire down as much as possible.

“They made a pretty decent stop on it initially,” O’Leath said. “The biggest issue was the smoke and water throughout the building as well as the evacuation of the residents. It made it very difficult to get access and keep them safe to get them evacuated to a safe location.

“Some folks stayed on scene. They were in the parking areas, in the street and parking lot across (from the building). Most of the residents were evacuated to the Arnold No. 2 Training & Social Center on Fifth Avenue just around the corner. We use that as an emergency shelter when necessary.”

Westmoreland County Housing Authority Executive Director Michael Washowich said the 18 units that sustained smoke and water damage won’t be livable again for an undetermined time.

As a result, Washowich said those residents will be relocated on a longer-term basis.

“The good news is no one was (seriously) injured,” Washowich said.

Arnold Manor is a public housing high-rise on Horne Boulevard that is operated by the county housing authority.

Arnold Fire Company No. 1 Capt. William Hartman said the cause of the fire was undetermined Thursday afternoon, and a fire marshal is investigating.

Fire departments from New Kensington, Lower Burrell, Upper Burrell, Allegheny Township, Freeport and elsewhere were on the scene to battle the fire.

“Most departments in the area are all volunteer, so folks work their normal daylight jobs,” O’Leath said about the need for multiple departments. “It’s hard to get the members to the station to get those units on scene. They’re coming out with an engine that normally would have seven people on it might be coming out with three or four people on it.”

Hartman said residents were instructed to shelter in place until firefighters arrived to get them out.

It took 15 to 20 minutes for firefighters to extinguish the flames, Hartman said.

Another look at the scene at the Arnold Manor as fighters continue to hose down the apartment. pic.twitter.com/f6j7tSmDqV

— Tanisha Thomas (@tanishajanae) December 9, 2021

Sue Frank, who lived above the apartment that burned, said some smoke filled her bathroom and bedroom. She was not aware of the fire until she opened the window and someone outside alerted her. She has lived in the building for 19 years.

Frank was worried about the fate of her belongings, because she has more than 80 paintings.

“I feel like I have lost everything,” she said.

Frances Speer of Lower Burrell drove to the building when she got a call about the fire. Her sister lives below the apartment. She saw her sister banging on the window for help when she arrived.

“She has lost everything,” Speer said. “She has nothing, she said.”

Tanisha Thomas is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tanisha by email at tthomas@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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