NEVILLE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Smoke poured from a Neville Township business Monday morning.
Allegheny County 911 dispatchers tell Channel 11 that police, fire and EMS were sent to the Neville Motel on Grand Avenue around 9:30 a.m.
PHOTOS: Neville Motel sustains serious fire damage
“She grabbed the door handle and her hand almost got stuck to it,” said neighbor Scott Ashbaugh.
Residents told Channel 11 News that their neighbor was in the shower when flames began to engulf her apartment.
“Apparently I heard that she climbed out the bathroom window,” Ashbaugh said.
Officials believe the fire began when a lit candle was left unattended.
“There was heavy fire coming out the front of the building, we’re not 100% sure, the fire marshal will check but we believe might have been started with candles,” said Chief Michael Thomas, Neville Island.
Ashbaugh who lives two doors down says he and his wife heard the fire alarms and when they looked outside, they could see the thick smoke. But it wasn’t until he walked out the door that he knew the fire was nearby.
“It’s not nearby its right here, ran inside grabbed my shoes grabbed my jacket, and went and checked to make sure everybody was out,” he explained.
While the cause of the fire is under investigation; neighbors, we spoke with say are grateful it wasn’t worse.
“Oh yeah, we thought it was going to spread. It probably took almost five to 10 minutes before we even saw the fire truck. We are standing there, and the fire kept engulfing and engulfing more,” Ashbaugh said.
The woman was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW