A New Kensington home sustained “a good bit of damage” following an electrical fire Wednesday night, according to New Kensington Fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr.
Crews responded to the 600 block of Clyde Street in the Valley Heights section of the city just after 11 p.m., Saliba said.
“Police got on scene first and confirmed smoke in the house,” he said. “The fire department got there, and they used a thermal imaging camera and found fire behind the wall in the kitchen.
“The fire appears to be electrical in nature.”
Two people were inside at the time of the fire. They were able to get out safely, Saliba said. There were no injuries.
“They had working smoke detectors, thank goodness,” he said.
The fire started below the first floor and worked its way up the walls to the attic of the one-and-a-half story home, Saliba said.
“We had to open the walls and the ceiling,” he said.
Saliba ruled the fire as accidental in nature and the exact cause to be undetermined.
He said the occupants were unable to stay in the house due to the extent of damages. Their family provided accommodations Wednesday night, and the Red Cross has been in touch with the homeowner.
