1 Dead In Washington Co. High Rise Fire

WASHINGTON, Pa. (KDKA) -- One man has died after fire broke out at a high rise in Washington County on Friday.

Crews were called to the Washington Arbor apartments in the 100-block of North College Street in the City of Washington around 8:40 p.m.

The fire was reported on the fifth floor of the building. It spread across that floor and into the stairwells.

Officials say 90 apartments were evacuated.

The Red Cross says 51 people are staying at the gym over at Washington and Jefferson College.

"We removed, I believe, four of five victims out of the fifth floor, out of the stairways," said Chief Lin Brookman, of the Washington City Fire Department. "One of my firefighters found the victim in his room. He extracted him into the hallway and we took him to the stairway and brought him down."

There's no word so far on what sparked the blaze.

The Washington County Coroner's Office has identified the victim as 66-year-old James Springer.

They say he was taken to Washington Hospital where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room around 9:40 p.m.

The fire chief says those residents who live on floors six and above are being allowed back into their apartments late tonight; however, it's unclear when those who live on the floors below will be allowed back in.

Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.

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