Charleroi fire ruled accidental
CHARLEROI — One person was hospitalized overnight after being treated for smoke inhalation suffered in an apartment building fire early Saturday.
According to Charleroi Fire Chief Robert Whiten Jr., the fire was called in at 3:04 a.m. Saturday at 803 Fallowfield Ave. The three-story apartment building contained four apartments, three of which were occupied at the time of the fire. Whiten said everyone got out of the building on their own.
“One female occupant of the apartment where the fire initiated was injured. She was taken to Mon Valley Hospital and kept overnight for smoke inhalation,” Whiten said.
Whiten said the woman told investigators she thinks she may have fallen asleep while smoking. Whiten said the woman’s apartment received fire damage, while the other apartments in the building received smoke, heat and water damage. The building cannot be occupied at this time.
“We had the fire knocked down within 5 minutes,” Whiten said.
Crews from Charleroi, Lock 4, Fallowfield, Stockdale, Monessen 1 and Roscoe assisted at the scene, with all crews back in their stations by around 4:40 a.m., Whiten said. Monessen EMS, the Charleroi Regional Police and the state police fire marshal also responded to the call. Whiten said the fire was ruled accidental.