1 killed in Saturday night house fire in Tarentum
Allegheny County officials have confirmed one person was killed in a fire that severely damaged a duplex home late Saturday in Tarentum.
Kasey Reigner, spokesperson for the county’s Department of Emergency Services, said the fire is being investigated by the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office. She was unable to provide further details about the person who died.
Robert Stoebener, captain of the Highland Hose Fire Company, said a person who was rescued from inside the house at 912 Corbet St. was taken by medics to Allegheny General Hospital. He referred questions about the person to the fire marshal.
Stoebener said multiple fire departments were called to the home because of Saturday’s frigid winter storm conditions and when it was learned that someone was trapped in one side of the two-story duplex. The other side of the house was vacant, he said.
First responders were dispatched shortly before 11 p.m.
“When I got on the scene, there was very heavy smoke,” said Stoebener. “We made an aggressive interior attack for fire suppression.
“The hydrants were not frozen. We were able to get water on the fire within minutes.”
Stoebener added, “It was a very stubborn fire. A lot was in the eaves of the duplex. It took a little bit to get to that.”
He said he expects the house will be a total loss. It wasn’t clear how many people may have been displaced by the fire.
Emergency crews cleared the scene at about 3:30 a.m.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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