Tragedy struck a McCandless apartment building over the weekend as a fire forced 11 families out of their homes. The blaze began Saturday night at the Royal Manor Apartments, with emergency services receiving the call just before 9:45 p.m. According to Matthew Williams, the chief of the Peebles District Volunteer Fire Company, who spoke to TribLIVE, the fire was contained within roughly 30 minutes. Williams pinpointed the origin of the fire to a stove in a basement-level apartment and noted that, though the fire was restricted to that kitchen, heavy smoke spread throughout the structure.
Families now confront the ordeal of finding temporary housing, while some gathered belongings with windows behind them boarded up. The Red Cross has stepped in to offer assistance to those affected. One of the residents suffering from minor injuries was treated at the scene, "Fire Marshal Jeff Wissner said crews found a fire in the kitchen of one of the apartments once they arrived and got inside," according to CBS Pittsburgh. An investigation to determine the fire's cause is currently underway.
As the community held its breath, the immediate aftermath of the incident brought some relief despite the devastation. Chief Williams said that two residents were evaluated for smoke inhalation at the scene, but did not need to be taken to the hospital. While the Red Cross has been actively involved, "They put up one family that had nowhere to go," according to a statement obtained by TribLIVE. The hope is that those with apartments not directly touched by the fire will be able to return within 48 hours or so.
The displaced families, alongside the responders who rushed to the call, now face the challenge of reconstruction—both the physical premises and the lives disrupted by the conflagration. As the inquiry into the cause of the fire continues, affected residents and the wider McCandless community await answers and the opportunity to rebuild as promptly as the damage allows. For those wishing to extend a helping hand, contact details for the Red Cross and other aiding organizations can be found on their respective websites.
