A 2-year-old girl has died following a fire Friday evening in Pittsburgh’s East Hills neighborhood, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Praise Lemons was identified as the victim in an apartment fire that broke out at Maple Ridge Apartments about 9 p.m. in the 2000 block of Park Hill Drive, the examiner said.
Praise died at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Her mother and 6-year-old sister were transported to separate hospitals Friday, including Children’s , and where the girl was reported to be in stable condition Saturday afternoon, after suffering smoke inhalation and burns, according to Pittsburgh Public safety spokeswoman Emily Bourne.
In total, 12 apartments were affected, according to Pittsburgh fire Chief Darryl Jones. Jones said Saturday the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The fire, which broke out on the third floor, was contained to a single unit.
Maple Ridge Apartments was condemned Saturday by the city’s Department of Permits, Licensing and Inspections, according to Jones.
The Red Cross is assisting displaced residents
Two security guards working at the apartment complex intervened at the fire scene and tried to assist the mother and two children. Those men were evaluated at the scene for smoke inhalation and one was sent to an area hospital but released Friday night.
