1 victim identified in Hill District fire

PITTSBURGH — Two people are dead after a fire in a three-story building in the Hill District around 3 a.m. Sunday.

One of the victims has been identified as Lonnie Davis, 60, of Sheraden.

The identity of the second victim, who jumped to his death from the building, has not been released.

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When police and emergency responders arrived on the scene, people were trapped on the upper floors of the structure in the 2400 block of Wylie Avenue. Neighbors said one police officer got there before anyone else and tried to help the people trapped inside.

"I walked past here and seen that my friend’s building was on fire," said Raymond Green, a witness. “I said, 'Y'all going to have to jump out the window, man.'"

Green said the fire was too intense for him to get inside.

“I was going to run and try to help them but all I could do was throw a rock at the window and get them out," Green said.

"My whole entire house is destroyed," said Andrea Richards, where water is still dripping onto her furniture.

Upstairs there are big holes in the ceilings where firefighters cut through to try and stop the fire that was raging next door.

"I saw fire and people jumping out the window trying to save themselves, you know?" Najee Richard said. "It was really very sad."

Two people jumped out of the building from the second floor to safety, Green said. One of them, Davis, died from his injuries at the hospital. His family came by Monday and put flowers on the sidewalk.

Police found another body inside the building and have still not identified who it was.

Three additional people were injured in the fire, police said. Two were transported to UPMC Presbyterian in stable condition, while one man was taken to UPMC Mercy in critical condition.

A firefighter was transported to UPMC Mercy with minor injuries after falling through the roof, police said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Tuesday, a group of volunteers will gather at Calvary Baptist Church at 10 a.m. to go door-to-door in the neighborhood, educating residents on the importance of having and practicing home fire escape plans. The group will also help install free smoke alarms if needed.

Cox Media Group