13 people displaced, kitten rescued from fire above Jack’s Bar in Pittsburgh’s South Side

A fire Monday evening ripped through a multi-story building in Pittsburgh’s South Side, displacing 13 people who live there, public safety officials said.

No one was injured, and the affected residents are being helped by the American Red Cross, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz.

The fire broke out about 6:15 p.m. at the building in the 1100 block of East Carson Street, with Jack’s Bar on the commercial first floor and apartments above.

By the time that first responders arrived, all of the residents had evacuated safely, according to officials.

Thick black smoke shot out from the windows of the upper floors.

“When firefighters arrived on scene, they found a fully involved fire on the upper floors, mainly at the back of the building, with reports of possible entrapment,” Cruz said. “Firefighters searched the building and found no one was left inside.”

FINAL UPDATE:

The fire is under control.

Please avoid the area of E. Carson St. between S. 10th St. and S.14th St. while first responders move out of the area. https://t.co/MQMkHI8m9z

— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) April 5, 2021

Firefighters did rescue a kitten.

“Paramedics gave it oxygen before it was reunited with its owner,” Cruz said.

The kitten’s name is Marsha, and her owner said he was very grateful when his young pet “perked up” as medics delivered her back to him safely, Trib news partner WPXI-TV reports.

.@amy_hudak and I found the owner! His name is Pete and the kitty’s name is Marsha! Thanks to Pittsburgh Paramedics! https://t.co/ypIqJDxl4z

— Gigi (@wpxigigi) April 6, 2021

UPDATE: Looks like the kitty is going to be alright. Paramedic is walking around with the cat now. #WPXI pic.twitter.com/s03NJAhXEC

— Gigi (@wpxigigi) April 5, 2021

Police blocked off a stretch of East Carson Street between 10th and 14th streets while knocking down the two-alarm fire and securing the area, which took nearly two hours.

It’s unclear just how much damage the fire and cleanup caused, with Jack’s Bar below appearing relatively unscathed compared to the blackened rafters and broken windows of the apartment units, WPXI reports. The bar plans to shut down temporarily, just a day after reopening as the state eases dining and alcohol-related covid restrictions.

Officials continue to investigate the cause of the fire.

Heavy smoke coming from this building along East Carson Street. Neighbor who lives in apartments here tells me his upstairs neighbor’s room was full of thick smoke before building was evacuated @WPXI pic.twitter.com/Ex3HJvjFbH

— Amy Hudak (@amy_hudak) April 5, 2021

In February, a fire destroyed a four-story building across the street that housed a barbershop and the former South Side Chamber of Commerce. No one was injured in that incident, but the building went up in flames and partially collapsed.