Victim of fatal Arnold apartment house fire identified, cause under investigation

A man died in a fire early Thursday at an apartment house on Woodmont Avenue in Arnold.

The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Frank J. Cable, 54.

The early morning blaze in the two-story frame house at 1937 Woodmont Ave. also claimed the life of Cable’s dog, according to Kenneth VanTine, assistant chief of Arnold Volunteer Engine Company No. 2.

VanTine said a police officer was the first to arrive on the scene but was unable to enter the house because of the heat and flames. Firefighters from Arnold, Lower Burrell and New Kensington responded.

“When fire units arrived on scene, they encountered thick, acrid smoke and intense flames,” VanTine said.

Cable was found on the first floor near the front door, VanTine said.

By the time most of the flames were doused, part of the second floor had collapsed and the interior of the building was nearly gutted. Authorities said the house is not salvageable and will be condemned and demolished.

Arnold No. 2 fire Chief Willie Weber said one of his firefighters suffered head and shoulder injuries. Weber would not identify the firefighter but said he was in the basement fighting the fire when the ceiling collapsed. The chief said the firefighter was walking and talking and should be OK.

Weber said the fire was accidental. He said it started in the basement, but he did not know the cause. A state police fire marshal is investigating.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of Cable’s death.

The owner of the rental property, who did not want to give his name, said he bought the house a couple of months ago and was planning on renovating it. He said he had insurance.

A neighbor’s story

Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to two adjacent houses. One is vacant.

Joyce Gaudy lives in the other.

Gaudy said she woke to the sound of a police officer banging on her front door about 3 a.m. Thursday but didn’t realize what was going on until she looked out her front window and saw smoke coming from the house next door.

“We were told to move our cars to make room for the firetrucks, but I didn’t think it was that bad because there wasn’t a lot of smoke at first,” said Gaudy, 67.

“But when I got back to my house, I saw the firefighters breaking the windows, and the smoke just started pouring out,” she said. “I was worried that if they didn’t put the fire out, it would catch my house on fire because they are so close together.”

Less than 3 feet separate the two houses. Gaudy’s home appeared to be undamaged, but the side of the building was covered in soot from the fire and there was a smell of smoke inside.

Gaudy said she regularly spoke to Cable. She said he worked as a truck driver and was a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. She would see him walking and playing with his dog, which she described as very well behaved.

“He was just the nicest guy. I’m still shocked,” she said. “We always talked when we saw each other, and he would sometimes come by to have a drink with us.”

Gaudy said Cable was a military veteran and that he was was divorced with no children. She said he has a sister, stepchildren and nephews who visited. His brother, Ralph Cable, died in January.

Three apartments destroyed

The house contained three apartments. Cable lived on the first floor, the basement tenant was not home at the time of the fire, and the upstairs apartment was vacant.

A detached rear building on the property, which is occupied, was not damaged.

Gaudy said the man who lived in the basement apartment left sometime Wednesday and didn’t return because the power in the building had gone out.

“West Penn Power was here a good part of the day working to get the electric back on,” she said.

Weber said the electricity had been turned back on.

Walker Funeral Home in New Kensington is handling arrangements for Cable.