McKEESPORT, Pa. — Crews were called early Friday morning to a two-alarm fire in McKeesport.
The fire started about 4 a.m. at a vacant house on Cleveland Street, according to officials. A neighboring house suffered damage to its siding.
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According to McKeesport firefighters, a vehicle illegally drove over the department’s water supply hose as firefighters actively worked to extinguish the fire. That caused the firefighters to lose water for several minutes until the hose could be repaired.
One person was taken to the hospital, it is unclear if that person was a resident or firefighter.
A neighbor told Channel 11 she woke up to a knock on her door around 4 a.m.
It was another neighbor saying the family had to get out of the house because of the fire nearby.
"I grabbed the kids and the animals and went over there and sat in the grass with blankets while we watched our house burn,” said Angela Gretz. “It's not a fun thing to do."
Gretz said her son’s room is destroyed and her daughter’s room has significant water damage after her house caught fire.
Unfortunately, she said residents in the neighborhood are used to seeing firefighters battle fires in the area because of abandoned houses.
“We’re used to it because this is the third or fourth time this has happened,” she said. “Now our house is destroyed.”
Channel 11 spoke to a fire inspector who said the abandoned house is a total loss and will be torn down this weekend.
As for Gretz, she said she hopes her home will be repaired and she will be able to move back in soon.