Fire displaces family at Maple Street in Pittsburgh, family owned it for decades

Chuck Biedka | Wednesday, February 6, 2019 11:45 p.m.

Fire forced a family from a Maple Street house in Pittsburgh just after 6 p.m. Wednesday, but everyone inside got out safely.

First District Fire Batallion Chief Greg Lowman said no one was injured in the blaze that heavily damaged the house thought to be about 100 years old.

The fire apparently started in a second-floor bedroom on the right side of the three-story, Victorian-style house constructed largely of wood, the chief said.

“Someone smelled smoke and they got out,” Lowman said.

Lowman said the blaze spread upward through interior and exterior walls.

After about 90 minutes, the fire appeared to be out and units left. But they had to return about an hour later for a rekindle that was extinguished in about an hour.

At least four people were displaced.

“Maybe many more,” Lowman said. “There were many family members standing together. They were disheartened. They told me the house had been in the family for at least 50 years.”

The Red Cross arranged for the family to stay in a hotel, he said.

Chuck Biedka is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chuck at 724-226-4711, cbiedka@tribweb.com or via Twitter @ChuckBiedka.