35 residents displaced after apartment fire in Duquesne

DUQUESNE, Pa. — On Thursday afternoon, families gathered at the First Presbyterian Church of Duquesne after a fire displaced 35 residents from an apartment building.

Each family received a hot meal donated by Eat’N Park and a warm place to stay after flames destroyed more than a dozen apartment units.

“I would have probably been still asleep,” said Sonya Rudolph.

Rudolph, a tenant at the Hilltop Parkview Apartments, lives alone and was sleeping when flames broke out in her neighbor’s apartment.

Chopper 11 captured the roof of the apartment caved in from the fire

“I heard a lot of banging and noises. It was the firefighters telling everyone to exit,” said Rudolph.

The Red Cross said that emergency crews and the fire department were called for the fire. They found 20 units damaged by flames or smoke.

“Not a complete loss to all twenty units, which is good, but there are at least 11 units that are destroyed,” said Nicole Roschella, spokesperson for the local Red Cross.

Rudolph watched from outside of her home as the flames spread down the row of apartments. The fire stopped just short of hers.

“Just a little water, but there are still some things I go in and get, I’m grateful that I still have,” Rudolph said.

She was able to save her degree from Point Park University, family photos, and a few personal belongings. But with no family in the area, management moved her into a different apartment.

As for the other families impacted, the Red Cross is providing shelter, food and long-term case workers to assist.

Rudolph says she’s grateful.

“This is the first time this ever happened to me, and I am just highly grateful to be alive,” Rudolph said.

The American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter opened an overnight shelter for residents displaced that has since been closed. The Red Cross said in a release Friday that after contacting all 35 displaced residents, they determined their urgent needs were met.

“In the days and weeks ahead, the Red Cross caseworkers will continue to support all displaced residents by ensuring they receive the assistance they need to recover from this disaster. The Red Cross and community partners will work to determine ongoing recovery goals, plan next steps and connect residents with local resources that include solutions for long-term housing and community stability,” the release stated.

Anyone in need of Red Cross assistance can call 1-800-RED CROSS.

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