North Charleroi apartment fire reported
A predawn blaze Sunday displaced residents of a two-story apartment building in North Charleroi.
Mike Castner, chief of Lock Four Volunteer Fire Co., said the fire broke out shortly before 6 a.m. on Locust Lane. He said there were no injuries, but all residents of the 12-unit structure were evacuated and utilities were shut off. He said the state police fire marshal determined the cause to be electrical.
James Agostoni, owner of the building, said four units were damaged: two by fire, two by water. He does not have a cost estimate of the damage. Displaced residents are being assisted by the Red Cross.
“It was pretty intense,” Castner said. “The fire rapidly went through the roof within a few minutes of our arrival and the ceiling on unit 4 collapsed.”
Castner said firefighters were hindered in their efforts to control the blaze because of difficulties with two hydrants. One was frozen and the other had low water pressure. “It probably took 45 minutes to get a complete grasp on it,” he said.
Firefighters responded from Lock Four, North Belle Vernon, Donora, Monessen Nos. 1 and 2, Charleroi, Fallowfield Township, Stockdale, Belle Vernon and Carroll Township. The Bentleyville Rapid Intervention Team also responded along with Charleroi Regional Police and Mon Valley EMS.
Castner said Mon Valley Transit sent a bus to help shield first responders from the frigid temperatures.