Firefighters fight flames at home in Rankin, experience trouble with hydrant

RANKIN, Pa. — Two people were able to safely escape a house fire Friday morning in Rankin.

The blaze was first reported at a home on Holland Avenue just before 10 a.m.

Officials said the people inside the home saw smoke and immediately exited.

Firefighters initially had problems fighting the fire because the nearest hydrant was out of order.

"Upon arrival, we found the front of the house fully involved. Initially, we had some problems with water. There was a fire hydrant out of service on top of the hill," said Braddock Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tom Petrovic.

Francine Harris, who lives across the street from the house that caught fire, said she has known about the dead hydrant and wonders why it was never fixed.

"[There was an] ‘out-of-order’ sign on it, so they had to go up North Holland to get water for the house on the street that was burning up," said Harris.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Channel 11’s Alan Jennings reported that Rankin officials are now trying to get to the bottom of the out-of-order fire hydrant.

WPXI