Senior citizens rescued from burning apartment building; damages estimated at $1 million

WILKINS TWP, Pa. — Flames broke out at an apartment building in Wilkins Township Saturday night, requiring crews to rescue senior citizens as an evacuation took place.

The fire, which caused an estimated $1 million in damages, started about 9:30 p.m. at Brentmoor at Penn Center, an 11-story building located on Penn Center Boulevard.

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Channel 11's Renee Kaminski learned that the fire began on the fourth floor. More than 100 firefighters responded.

Chief Alvin Henderson said the fire was the result of a failed power cord of a small appliance in an apartment bedroom.

Smoke and flames forced about 200 residents outside. Some people who were unable to get out of the building on their own were rescued from balconies by firefighters.

Nena Shapiro was one of the people rescued.

"My next-door neighbor knocked on my door. He's handicapped, and he told me there was a fire in his apartment and his mother was in the bedroom, and he came and he wanted to save his mother, but the hallway was so full of smoke that I wouldn't let him out. And I made him go on the balcony and we waited until the firemen came. And we went down the ladder. God bless those firemen," said Shapiro.

Several people were treated at the scene by paramedics. A 90-year-old woman was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital for smoke inhalation.

Most of the apartment building's residents have since been able to return home.

WPXI