Springdale father and son safe, sheltered after fire damages home

Kendall Collier was at work when he received an emergency call from his father Friday afternoon.

“ ’Our house is on fire. Come home quick’ were his exact words,” Collier said, standing outside their three-story Springdale home.

Firefighters from multiple departments responded to the two-alarm blaze around 2:30 p.m. along the 300 block of Orchard Street.

Collier’s father, Robert, escaped unharmed. Their cat, Silvy, did not make it out.

No other injuries were reported.

“When we got here there was already fire venting from the roof and the downhill side (of the home) toward the second and third floor,” Springdale Fire Chief Kevin Wilhelm said. “We were at a small fire down on Standard Avenue when this call came in.”

No injuries were reported in connection with the small kitchen fire along the 500 block of Standard Avenue.

Wilhelm said he called for extra manpower to Orchard Street.

A nearby home sustained some exterior damage.

“The vinyl siding started melting and charred the wood,” Wilhelm said. “We got a handle on that immediately and knocked it down.”

The American Red Cross was called to assist the Collier family with shelter.

The son said the fire may have started in a computer room on the second floor.

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the blaze.

Collier said he does not expect to come back home for at least a few months as things get sorted out with the insurance company and repairs.

Fire companies responded from Oakmont, Lower Burrell, Fawn, Arnold, Frazer, East Deer and Brackenridge.