Four hospitalized following Smith Township fire
A family of seven escaped a house fire in Smith Township Thursday morning, but four were hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
Slovan/Smith Township Fire Department responded to the fire at 515 Fifth Ave. around 6 a.m. A mother, father and two of their children were taken to a hospital. The fire caused severe damage to the home.
Midway, Mt. Pleasant and Swedesburg fire departments also responded to the scene. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Bernadette Gariglio, who is staying in her daughter’s house nearby on Fifth while visiting from North Carolina, said she could smell smoke around 4 a.m. She went outside and saw the flames when a police car pulled into the driveway.
“It’s your natural instinct,” she said. “You’re going to go help somebody.”
According to Gariglio, one of the children taken to the hospital was just a year old.
The Burgettstown Area Community Development Corp (BACDC) made a post to Facebook seeking donations to help the family.
“A local family with five children lost everything in a fire this morning. We’re asking for gift card donations for Walmart, Target, groceries, and restaurants,” the post reads in part.
The BACDC stressed that they are seeking only gift card donations. Gift cards can be dropped off at the Burgettstown Community Library or mailed directly to the BACDC at P.O. Box 331, Burgettstown, PA 15021.