Police: Fire at Sheldon Park in Harrison caused $500K in damage

Kate Keener has lived in public housing in Harrison for about 10 years, but a fast-moving fire Monday morning forced Keener, her daughter and two pets to get out in a hurry.

The two were among at least four people who had to evacuate a four-unit building in the Allegheny County Public Housing Authority’s Sheldon Park community.

The blaze destroyed all but a rear apartment in building 30, officials confirmed.

There was no report of injuries among residents or firefighters, though the damage was costly.

“It caused at least a half- million dollars in damage,” said ACHA police Chief Mike Vogel.

Harrison police Sgt. Brian Turack said he saw smoke coming from the two-story building and called Allegheny County 911 at 7:48 a.m.

Turack and Citizens Hose Company No. 2 Fire Chief Sean Jones helped residents to evacuate. One man was in an electric wheelchair.

“Flames were coming out of upstairs windows and burning to the roof when I arrived,” Jones said.

Numerous fire units were sent to help.

Heavy smoke was visible. Flames consumed the roof and at least one side wall of the building. Heat from the blaze melted siding.

Several fire chiefs said the fire seemed to have a head-start. Jones said the construction of the two-story building sent flames to the eaves and roof and quickened the pace of the fire.

The fire destroyed apartments 301, 302 and 303. Apartment 304 was untouched by fire, officials said.

One apartment, 302, was vacant. It had large blackened areas at the front first-floor wall and the upstairs rear wall.

The fire’s origin and cause are being investigated by Allegheny County Fire Marshal investigators and housing authority police.

Salvation Army Pittsburgh Operations Manager Thomas Perez said help was being provided for two families.

The burned building was one of the housing authority’s 16 two-story buildings with 70 apartment units in Sheldon Park.