Devastating Pittsburgh Apartment Complex Fire Aftermath: New Info

PITTSBURGH, PA — Dozens of residents of the Squirrel Hill apartment complex consumed by a devastating fire on Tuesday have lost everything they own. They are not allowed back inside the building because of its structural insecurity.

The 30-unit apartment complex on Forward Avenue near Murray Avenue has been condemned and the city has ordered its owners to demolish the building within 48 hours.

Firefighters were still on the scene Wednesday, more than 24 hours after the fire broke out at around 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The four-alarm blaze was brought under control about five hours later.

No one was injured in the blaze. All residents were accounted for, although a resident's cat died in the fire.

Officials have said a fire broke out in the kitchen on the building's third floor. Complicating matters was a second fire, electrical, that broke out in the basement.

The fire continues to cause traffic issues in the neighborhood, as PennDOT announced the ramp from Forward Avenue to the Parkway East is closed to traffic until further notice. The ramp likely will not reopen until the complex is razed.

The American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania continues to assist people impacted by the fire. Volunteers are operating a shelter at the Magee Recreation Center on Greenfield Avenue.The Red Cross said on Wednesday that five people stayed overnight at the shelter.