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Municipal workers rescue several from Scottdale house fire

SCOTTDALE, Pa. — A family of four was rescued from the roof of a burning Scottdale home Thursday morning by Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County workers.

The MAWC crew was working in front of the Chestnut Street house when the fire broke out just before 5 a.m.

According to Steven Rosatti, a Forbes Road Volunteer Fire Department fireman and MAWC employee, the crew used a dump truck and backhoe to get Jim and Angela Newton, along with their children, 13-year-old Ivy and 5-year-old Kahne, off the roof of the Victorian-style home.

“We ran down and the dump truck driver backed the truck across the sidewalk up to the porch,” Rosatti said. “He raised the bucket, set it on the porch, put all four people in the bucket and lowered them to the ground.”

Jim Newton described the intense fire and was extremely thankful of Rosatti and his colleagues.

“I couldn’t even make it out of the bedroom because the fire spread so quickly,” Jim Newton said.

Tracy Wiltrout of South Connellsville, grandmother of the children, arrived to comfort the family.

“A big thanks to the water company ... those guys are heroes,” she said.

Mitch Zimmerman, who lives in one of the two downstairs apartments with his wife Linda, said they only had time to grab some clothes and get out the door.

The other downstairs apartment is rented by David Gordon, Shauna Kubistek and Gertrude McGregor, Zimmerman said.

There were no reported injuries.

“I owe my life to them,” Jim Newton said.

In addition to Rosatti, the MAWC crew included Frank Francia, Dave Hall and Rich Salandro.

“They really did a fantastic job. That’s something to celebrate today,” Scottdale Assistant Fire Chief Ben Savanick said.

WPXI

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