1 Person Dies, 3 Hurt In Pittsburgh Apartment Building Fire

PITTSBURGH, PA —One person died and another was hospitalized in critical condition after a 5-alarm fire broke out in The Roosevelt Building on Penn Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh across the street from Heinz Hall.

Two others required medical attention. A medic was taken to a local hospital for treatment after suffering smoke inhalation. A firefighter was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

The blaze broke out shortly after 10:30 p.m. in an apartment on the 12th floor, and the fire was contained to that floor. Gas was shut off to the building as a precaution while firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, which was declared under control at 12:13 a.m.

There were 106 people occupying the building at the time of the fire. Pittsburgh public safety officials said they sheltered in place or sought shelter in nearby buildings for warmth.

A Red Cross Disaster Action Team was deployed to assist building residents who were displaced.

The name of the person killed in the blaze has not been released.

The cause of the fire has not been determined. Detectives from the fire investigation unit were on-scene and the investigation is ongoing.