Fire guts Harrison home, damages 2 others

Fire crews responded to the scene of a residential fire just after 10 p.m. Monday on Walnut Street in the Natrona section of Harrison.

Fire and EMS crews from Harrison, Brackenridge and Tarentum were on the scene after reports of heavy flames coming from an apartment in a two-story residence in the 20 block of Walnut Street, according to an Allegheny County Emergency Services release.

Tribune-Review news partner WPXI reported that the fire started on the second floor and spread to the attic and then to a house next door.

As of Tuesday morning, yellow caution tape surrounded three homes impacted by the fire.

“Nobody was in any of the homes last night during the fire,” neighbor Deb Maylo said. “I hate to see fires.”

The 35-year resident of Natrona said she received a phone call Monday night from the owner of one of the homes, which is unoccupied and on the market.

Maylo, 70, said the residents of the most heavily damaged structure were not home and were attending a local fair when the blaze began.

A fire chief on the scene told WPXI that the flames were hard to extinguish because of the tightly packed homes.

There were no reports of injuries, according to an Allegheny County 911 dispatcher.

Maylo wondered whether fireworks might be to blame for the fire.

“I can’t say for sure, but there were some people in the back alley shooting off (fireworks),” Maylo said.

Emergency personnel cleared the scene about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.

A spokesman for the Harrison Township Police Department said Tuesday the investigation has been turned over to the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office.

No additional information was available Tuesday.