Multiple people injured in Mather apartment fire
Courtesy of Ed Reidmann
Multiple people were injured early Saturday trying to escape a fire that engulfed an apartment building in Greene County as firefighters battled both the blaze and extreme cold for hours.
Firefighters from more than a half-dozen departments were called to 331 Third St. in the Mather neighborhood of Morgan Township about 2:30 a.m. and found the building in flames. At least five people were jumping from windows to escape as crews arrived on scene.
Multiple people living in the two-story, multi-unit apartment building were transported by both ambulances and medical helicopters to area hospitals, although their conditions were not immediately known.
Jefferson firefighters posted photographs on social media showing flames shooting from the windows and heavy smoke pouring from the building. The situation was compounded by the frigid temperatures that dropped into the negative teens, creating dangerously cold conditions for firefighters battling the blaze with ice forming around the scene.
The fire led to a massive response with Jefferson volunteer firefighters being assisted at the scene by departments from Waynesburg-Franklin, Clarksville, Carmichaels-Cumberland, Nemacolin, Rices Lands and East Bethlehem. There were also ambulance crews from Jefferson, Nemacolin, Rices Landing, Washington County and Fayette-Greene.
The Salvation Army, American Red Cross and Jefferson Volunteer Fire Co. Auxiliary were on scene providing relief with warm shelters and hot food and beverages for the firefighters.
Greene County Emergency Management Director Richard Policz said first responders were using the nearby Mather Christian Church as a command post and staging area. Policz said he and Jefferson fire Chief Joe Petek were meeting other emergency officials Saturday morning to debrief on the situation.
Neither Policz nor Petek had details on the severity of the injuries to the people inside the apartment.
Emergency officials asked people to avoid the area due to the dangerous conditions caused by the ice around the scene.