More than 30 people were left homeless after a four-alarm blaze swept through a Swissvale apartment building Tuesday night, causing it to partially collapse.
Firefighters struggled to contain the blaze at 7500 Melrose St. but finally brought it under control without serious injuries to themselves or the tenants of the 14 units.
About 8:40 p.m., two hours after the fire was reported, the entire back of the building collapsed.
The Red Cross is providing assistance, including lodging, for 20 adults and 20 children, according to Kevin Brown, a Red Cross spokesman. Others are staying with friends or relatives.
Swissvale fire Chief Clyde Wilhelm said the fire appears to have started in the rear roof area of the building, and firefighters were hampered by high winds whipping the flames. He said that the building was destroyed and that one firefighter was treated for a minor injury.
Shayla Harris, 27, and her children had lived on the third floor of the building for about eight months.
“I’m just hurt because everything I owned was in there. It’s just crazy,” she said.
Another resident, Morgan Lane, 29, said, “It’s horrible that I have to start all the way over. Everything I had was in that place.”
First Published: March 2, 2016, 2:10 a.m.
