Fire destroys Upper St. Clair townhouse
Upper St. Clair fire crews arrive on-scene to a smoke-filled Pinehurst Drive.
Fire crews used an aerial ladder with its water hose attachment to fight the fire in the air while staying on the ground.
The initial plumes of smoke went skyward before wintry wind blew it down across the entire street for hours.
Raylynn Porco was just putting down her 18-month old son A.J. for a nap when she and her boyfriend smelled what they described as wires and rubber burning. Porco, and her boyfriend, Matt, ran downstairs from their third-floor apartment at 1540 Pinehurst Drive as they heard cracking and popping.
Smoke blanketed the entire street as flames erupted on one side of the multi-tenant building in Upper St. Clair. At least one apartment in the townhouse was completely destroyed, while neighboring units suffered moderate to severe damage, leaving Porco and her family without a home.
“I don’t know what to say, I just, I believe I lost everything,” Porco said as she held the leash to her dog, Lily.
Porco carried her son into a nearby apartment and other neighbors gave her warm clothes. The two were among a handful of people who evacuated as the fire erupted around 12:15 p.m., Feb. 26. Upper St. Clair police Chief Douglas Burkholder confirmed with that none of the tenants was left inside or injured.
Tri-Community South medical personnel attempted and failed to resuscitate two cats that firefighters rescued from the building.
Fire crews from Bethel Park, Peters Township, Upper St. Clair, Bridgeville, Mt. Lebanon, and Fairview responded to the fire.
West Penn Power and People’s Gas representatives said power and gas were turned off in nearby apartment units to allow fire crews to battle the blaze.
Allegheny County Fire Marshall Chief Alvin Henderson said the fire started in the basement utility room as combustibles were left near a water heater. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up online for Porco and her family. To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/MattRayAJ