Smoke Evacuates Kittanning Apartments Thursday
Tenants in four rowhouse apartments in the 400 block of North Jefferson Street last night briefly were evacuated under the stars as firefighters investigated burning cardboard in the basement. While no tenants were injured, the investigation alongside Kittanning Borough Police is ongoing.
by Jonathan Weaver
A few row apartments in Kittanning Borough were evacuated for less than an hour Thursday evening following the smell of smoke.
Hose Company #1 Fire Chief Gene Stephens said that, whenever Kittanning Hose Company #1, #4 and #6 firefighters investigated the report, they found smoke in the basement of 418 North Jefferson St.
Firefighters found cardboard burning in the basement – which can be accessed from all four rowhouse apartments.
Chief Stephens said all tenants at home during the fire call were able to vacate their residences safely and that there was no damage to the structure. All residents were also able to stay in the apartments overnight.
“Everybody’s OK – everything’s alright,” Chief Stephens concluded.
The fire is still under investigation by firefighters and Kittanning Borough Police.
Kittanning #6 EMS responders also had a stretcher in the alley beside the apartments, but did not have to treat any tenants on Thursday evening.
While some fire apparatus idled along Union Avenue, others remained on stand-by in front of John Wheland Playground along North Jefferson Street.
Firefighters left the scene shortly before 8:30PM for their respective fire stations.
Local News | jweaver October 2, 2015
