Massive fire rips through rowhomes in Braddock, causing part of building to collapse

BRADDOCK, Pa. — A massive fire spread through several abandoned row homes in Braddock early Thursday.

It broke out around 1:35 a.m. in the 200 block of Oliver Street.

Eighteen fire departments responded to the four-alarm fire.

“I was really worried about my neighbor,” said Harriet Jenkins.

Jenkins’ neighbor lives next to the row houses.

He was the one who called 911 after seeing the flames. He said the fire started on the left and quickly tore through to the other side.

Firefighters started hitting the fire with water from the ground, but the pressure of the water triggered the middle row houses to collapse — pushing firefighters back as the units on the right started to crumble.

Firefighters spent another six-plus hours making sure it didn’t rekindle.

Neighbors said they were curious to know how this fire started, seeing as they knew people going in and out of several of the abandoned homes in the neighborhood.

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal is investigating. Rivers Edge fire chief said the department was fortunate that none of its firefighters was hurt.

At this point, the official cause of the fire has not been released.

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