Fire destroys Westmoreland County home

Multiple fire crews were called to the scene of a house fire Thursday morning in Youngwood in Westmoreland County. The fire was reported shortly after 4 a.m. on Silvis Farm Road. Youngwood Fire Chief Lloyd Craigo said the initial call was an entrapment fire. . When firefighters arrived, the five people who lived inside were all out of the house. Owner Sharon Young said the house was divided into two apartments, one on the first floor and one on the second floor. A total of five people lived in the structure. “My heart goes out to the tenants,” Young said. “I'm just very grateful that they made it out safe, and their dogs, and that they're OK. That's the important thing.” Neighbors on the first floor heard a loud noise coming from the garage and then saw the flames. . They used a nearby ladder to rescue their second-floor neighbors who were trapped after the stairs leading to the upstairs unit were engulfed in flames. “The people on the first floor found the ladder next to the house. They were able to help them get out,” said Chief Crago, “that's thanks to the people on the first floor.” The woman rescued from the second floor suffered burns to her arms, according to firefighters. She was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment, but will be fine. Two dogs also escaped unharmed. According to firefighters, the fire started in the garage before quickly spreading to the house. Tenants said they were working on motorcycles in the garage yesterday. “They said there were about eight motorcycles in a garage. They were working on them…There were tires, propane tanks, gas cans, things in the garage,” the chief said Crago. The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal is investigating. The Red Cross is helping.