Family displaced by blaze at Ross apartment complex, county fire marshal investigating cause

A fire at a Ross Township apartment complex Sunday evening was quickly extinguished, but the blaze caused enough damage to displace a family living in one of the units, according to authorities.

The fire at the Governor’s Ridge Apartments along Highlands Place was reported shortly before 7 p.m. on Sunday, according to an Allegheny County 911 dispatcher.

The apartment complex is located off northbound McKnight Road behind the U-Haul rental center.

The initial investigation shows that the fire started on the ground outside the building and spread up the exterior to the roof, according to Lt. Robert Pitts of the Berkeley Hills Fire Company in Ross.

Emergency responders encountered smoke and flames coming from the structure when they arrived but were able to extinguish it within about 15 minutes, the lieutenant said.

The two-story apartment complex is made up of attached units with separate entrances and a garage on the lower level.

Eight fire companies responded to the scene to assist with the firefighting operation.

“One family was displaced from a unit on the upper floor that sustained some smoke and water damage,” Pitts said. “But the reminder of the residents were able to return to their apartments.”

No information was available about whether the displaced family was receiving housing or other assistance from local social service agencies.

Officials for the apartment complex could not be reached to determine if they are providing the family with alternate housing.

Pitts said the cause of the fire is being investigated by the Allegheny County fire marshal’s office.