Flames shoot from home as neighbors evacuated in Pittsburgh neighborhood

PITTSBURGH — Investigators are working to determine what caused a duplex fire Monday morning within the Mexican War Streets section of Pittsburgh’s North Side.

Firefighters responded to a 911 call around 11:30 a.m., and arrived to find flames shooting from the third-floor window of the property on Alpine Avenue.

Crews were up against icy conditions and had to battle flames from the narrow ally, as fire spread to a neighboring unit.

>>PHOTOS: Flames shoot from home in Pittsburgh’s Mexican War Streets

It took about 20 minutes to knock down the two-alarm blaze, officials said. Thankfully, everyone made it out okay and rescue operations weren’t necessary. No firefighters were injured.

Officials told Channel 11 that at least one of the units is currently uninhabitable.

Neighbors told Channel 11 that a single mother and her three children lived at the now-destroyed home where the fire broke out.

“This is just like an atomic bomb on her life right now,” said neighbor Amanda Manol, who is working to launch an online fundraiser for the family.

The Red Cross is assisting two adults and four children who were displaced by the blaze.

The city’s Fire Investigation Unit, which is comprised of Pittsburgh police detectives and fire investigators, is working to determine what happened.

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Mexican War Streets house fire - WPXI Flames are shooting from a home in Pittsburgh’s Mexican War Streets neighborhood Monday morning. (WPXI/WPXI)

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