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Fire forces several from North Side apartment building

PITTSBURGH — Several families were displaced after flames ripped through a two and a-half story brick apartment building in the North Side Wednesday afternoon.

Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Sonya Toler said the fire was reported at a building in the 2800 block of Perrysville Avenue just after noon.

“Because of the heat and humidity today, and the labor intensive efforts, we put in a second alarm,” said Deputy Fire Chief Frank Large.

Channel 11's Renee Kaminski reported five families safely evacuated the building, including a couple in their 80s.

“It was bad. You couldn’t even see our street. That’s how smoky it was,” said Joyce Benning.

Benning, who lives a block away, told Kaminski the flames and smoke were so bad she thought her house was on fire.

“I was watching TV with my husband and I saw smoke coming in my house. He ran out the back door and I ran out the front door to see where it was coming from,” Benning said.

Firefighters at the scene told Kaminski the blaze began in the building’s attic. The exact cause has not been determined.

The American Red Cross will be assisting the families who lost everything in the blaze.

WPXI

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