Woman, dogs rescued as firefighters face frigid temps, 'hoarding' to battle McCandless blaze

Firefighters battled bitter cold outside and difficulties getting around the inside of a McCandless home to rescue a woman and several dogs Sunday afternoon, according to authorities.

The fire began at the home on Parkedge Drive just before 3:30 p.m., according to a 911 dispatcher.

Multiple dogs were pulled from the house, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV. A neighbor told the TV station around 20 dogs lived in the home.

“A female called and said her house was on fire,” said Matt Williams, chief of the Peebles Volunteer Fire Co. “When I yelled to her, I finally found her and I dragged her out front where the medics took her to West Penn Hospital” in Pittsburgh.

The woman, whose identity was not released, was conscious when she was transported to the hospital but the extent of her injuries was not available.

Police officers took the dogs to a shelter, Williams said.

The frigid temperature was not the only difficulty firefighters encountered fighting the fire.

“It was a hoarding situation,” the fire chief said. “Ton of stuff throughout the house, little pathways so it made the conditions (harder) for our firefighters to advance inside.”

The woman’s husband said there was a space heater inside the home that may have led to the fire, but officials say the cause remains under investigation.

The fire reached two alarms, according to the 911 dispatcher.

The building’s roof collapsed, destryoying the home, authorities said.

Megan Guza is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Megan at 412-380-8519, mguza@tribweb.com or via Twitter @meganguzaTrib.