2 people escape fire at Greensburg home

The cause of a fire that ripped through a Greensburg home Thursday afternoon is under investigation.

Responding to 307 Seminary Ave. shortly after 4 p.m., firefighters found the fire started in a second-floor bathroom, said Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department Chief Thomas Bell.

According to Bell, two people were sitting in the living room when they smelled smoke coming from the second floor. When they went upstairs, they saw flames.

They were able to escape the house safely. Bell did not identify the residents.

Neighbor Larry Douglas, 60, said he was outside when another neighbor came over saying she smelled smoke.

Thinking the fire was in the basement, Douglas grabbed a garden hose to try to put out the flames. But he quickly discovered the fire was on the second floor.

“It went into the bathroom, went down through the wall, went up through the roof and just carried through the attic,” Douglas said.

He added, “It was really bad. You couldn’t breathe in there.”

Brenda Stevenson, 72, who lives across the street, said smoke was “just pouring out” of the house.

Bell did not have an estimate regarding the extent of damage.

Jacob Tierney is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jacob at 724-836-6646, jtierney@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Soolseem.Megan Tomasic is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Megan at 724-850-1203, mtomasic@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MeganTomasic.