Firefighters return to scene of Ambridge apartment fire to...

AMBRIDGE, Pa. — Firefighters in Ambridge had to return to the scene of a massive fire when hot spots rekindled early Saturday morning.

At least one person was hurt in the blaze that erupted at the building on Merchant Street early Friday morning.

By nearly 8 a.m., flames were still shooting through the roof of the three-story building that houses Charles Men’s Store and several apartments.

Firefighters and police said about six people were evacuated when flames were spotted.

"I opened the door and smoke poured into the apartment. I shut the door to get my breathe again," said resident Mike Fike.

Fike said he woke his fiancé and they ran down a stairway to get out of the building, but before they were out his fiancé collapsed from smoke inhalation. He said he got her out of the building where he, too, collapsed.

"I didn't think we'd make it. I couldn’t' see. I was feeling the steps. I literally dragged her down the step," said Fike.

Fike's fiance was taken to Heritage Valley Sewickley hospital for treatment.

Ambridge Assistant fire Chief Rob Gottschalk said low water pressure hampered firefighters. At one point, they were pouring between 4,000 and 6,000 gallons of water per minute on the building, he said.

Two firefighters were in a stairwell inside the building when the stairs collapsed, but medics said they declined to be evaluated for minor injuries.

After 9 a.m., the flames moved to an adjacent two-story brick building that contains retail space on the first floor and at least one apartment on the second floor. By 9:30 a.m., firefighters had the flames contained on both buildings.

Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE contributed to this report.

WPXI