Two hospitalized after fire at Bentley Tower
Two people were flown to Pittsburgh following a fire at a senior high rise in Bentleyville Monday night.
Emergency crews were called just before 9 p.m. to Bentley Tower at 304 Washington St. Dominic Sicchitano, the assistant fire chief for Bentleyville Fire-Rescue, said firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke coming from an apartment on the seventh floor.
The resident of the apartment was rescued and flown by medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital. Another resident on the floor was also flown due to smoke inhalation, according to Sicchitano.
Bentley Tower is operated by the Washington County Housing Authority and contains 90 one-room apartments. A call to the authority was not returned by Tuesday’s deadline.
“The fire damage was contained to the single apartment,” Sicchitano said.
The state police fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. Sicchitano said he did not know where the fire originated in the apartment.
According to Sicchitano, other residents on the seventh floor were able to return to their apartments. No external damage was visible when a reporter visited Bentley Tower Tuesday.
Also responding to the fire were Ellsworth, Cokeburg, Fallowfield, Charleroi and North Strabane fire departments. Ambulance and Chair also responded.