Fire at Crafton apartment complex forces evacuation of more than 100 residents

CRAFTON, Pa. — A fire at an apartment building in Crafton led to the evacuation of more than 100 residents Sunday afternoon.

The fire broke out on the second-floor of the Crafton Towers shortly after noon.

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Officials said a man called out for help from the window of his apartment after seeing flames inside.

"The gentleman in the second floor apartment said his apartment was on fire," Leslie Desabato told Channel 11 News.

Desabato had been playing with her children across from the building, but stopped to call 911.

Beverly Cochran, who lives on the seventh floor of the Crafton Towers, also called 911.

"The smoke started to come in, so I put a wet thing in the door, but that didn't really help," she said.

Cochran is among about 120 residents of the building, some of whom have mobility issues. Fire Chief Mike Crown said several people needed assistance getting out.

"That's the scariest thing, waiting for someone to come and help you," said Cochran.

Five people, including three police officers, were taken to hospitals as a precaution, Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE reported.

The Red Cross is providing assistance to 12 adults after they were displaced due to the fire.

WPXI