PITTSBURGH — Three college graduate students and a family of four have been displaced after a fire destroyed their row houses in Pittsburgh’s Uptown neighborhood.
The damage is believed to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Investigators are now working to piece together what sparked the initial fire at a neighboring vacant row house.
“Last night I was feeling OK just because I thought our place was fine. This morning was a lot. A lot of feelings of shock,” said Emily Adams, a Duquesne University graduate student.
It’s a surreal sight for Adams and her two roommates.
They’re left picking up the pieces and trying to salvage what they can after the fire ravaged their row house early this morning.
The initial call came in just before 10 p.m. Monday for a row house on fire along Van Braam Street.
Crews successfully got that fire under control.
PHOTOS: Three row houses badly damaged in fire in Pittsburgh’s Uptown neighborhood
Just a few hours later, they were called back to the same street after the fire rekindled around 2 a.m.
“Our third floor has collapsed. The roof collapsed and so the bedroom’s gone,” said Adams.
Adams recalls getting a knock at their door from nearby construction workers telling them to get out as flames ripped through the neighboring vacant row house just before 10 p.m. Monday.
In a matter of minutes, Pittsburgh fire crews took over the neighborhood and worked to get the fire under control.
The scene cleared and residents were told they could safely return home.
Emily and her roommates decided to stay at a friend’s place to get some rest.
Around 2 a.m. the fire rekindled, with flames jumping to neighboring properties and destroying Adams’ row house and most of their belongings inside.
“If it had been like two hours later, we all would’ve been in bed so I’m just really glad it happened when it did and we got out when we did and we didn’t end up coming back when they said it was safe,” said Adams.
Only Channel 11 can show you what the row house looks like inside following the fire.
The lower floors are soaked in water.
The upstairs is gutted with the roof collapsing under the weight of the flames.
The properties are believed to be a total loss, but both Adams and the owner of the properties say it’s a miracle no one was hurt or killed.
“They were supposed to go back in last night. They’re lucky somebody was looking after them. Nobody got hurt,” said Robert Eckenrode, who owns two of the row houses.
“I’m just really grateful all of us are safe. We’re figuring out housing and stuff right now we have a lot of people who care about and taken care of us,” said Adams.
At this point, there is no word on what officially caused this fire.
The owner did tell Channel 11 some homeless people had been staying on the vacant property.
The Duquesne University students started a GoFundMe to help pay for their destroyed items.
You can donate here.
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