One dead, more displaced after Brownsville apartment fire
Ed Riedmann
One man died and about eight other residents were displaced as the result of an apartment fire in Brownsville early Sunday morning, according to South Brownsville Fire Company Chief Ron Barry.
Ed Riedmann
Vernon Pratt Sr., 34, of Brownsville died when his apartment on Second Street in Brownsville caught fire at about 12:50 a.m. Sunday. Six other residents were displaced.
Mike Tony | 蘑菇视频
One man died and about eight other residents were displaced as the result of an apartment fire in Brownsville early Sunday morning, according to South Brownsville Fire Company Chief Ron Barry.
One man died and several other residents were displaced as the result of an apartment fire in Brownsville early Sunday morning.
The deceased man, whose identity was not released as of Sunday afternoon, was a tenant of the top floor of the apartment, said South Brownsville Fire Company Chief Ron Barry, adding that the fire, reported around 12:50 a.m., displaced about eight residents who subsequently received assistance from the American Red Cross.
Located on 2nd Street across from the Brownsville Borough Building, the apartment had an excellent safety record but had an unusual layout that made fighting the fire challenging, Barry said.
Barry also noted that the fire appeared to have a significant head start, adding that it took firefighters roughly an hour for the fire to be quelled enough for internal crews to get to the top floor, where the fire was located.
鈥淚t was very, very difficult,鈥� Barry said of the fire. 鈥淰ery stubborn.鈥�
The fire was contained to the top floor but the rest of the building sustained heavy smoke and water damage, Barry said.
The Pennsylvania state police fire marshal is investigating the fire, Barry said.
South Brownsville Fire Company and fire personnel from North Brownsville, Hiller, West Brownsville, Grindstone, Adah, Republic, Isabella, Denbo, California and Bentleyville responded to the fire, according to Fayette County 911.
Fire rehab and Brownsville Ambulance Services also responded, Barry said, adding that a Salvation Army canteen provided energy bars and refreshments for firefighters and emergency medical service responders.
Barry offered his 鈥渟incere thanks鈥� to the firefighters and EMS responders who were on the scene.
鈥淭hey really gave their all,鈥� Barry said. 鈥淚t is a terrible tragedy, but it could have been worse.鈥�