13 people homeless after fire damages 3 homes in Vandergrift

Fire damaged three Vandergrift homes early Tuesday, displacing 13 people, according to the American Red Cross.

A Westmoreland County fire marshal said the fire started about 2:20 a.m. in electrical wiring on the front porch of 108 Custer Ave.

Jaime Confer, who lives at 108 Custer Ave., said a family friend staying at the house had been up late playing video games when he saw a flicker of light on the front porch.

“I am very lucky that he doesn’t sleep much at night,” said Confer, 37.

The family friend, Confer, her husband and their two children managed to get out safely with two dogs and a rabbit.

The house was severely damaged, while a duplex with two apartments on one side of the Confers’ house sustained moderate damage and a single-family home on the other side had mild exterior damage, said Vandergrift No. 1 Fire Chief Randy Dunmire.

The fire was knocked down in about a half-hour.

Confer said she lost her furniture and other items. Later Tuesday, she was able to find a few items of clothing for her children in a dresser. One of her dogs remained missing around noon.

The American Red Cross said it was assisting 11 adults and two children displaced by the fire by providing temporary shelter, clothing and food, spokeswoman Lisa Landis said. No one was injured.