Neighbors saddened by damage left behind in Fox Chapel house fire, "It's a classic older home."
An early morning house fire ripped through a Fox Chapel home, leaving behind more than just charred wood.
A piece of the neighborhood's history was also lost as a result.
The recently sold home was undergoing renovations, and massive flames tore through the home early on Thursday morning. Neighbors were shocked to see the damage done by the fire.
"It's just a classic older home as we have in the neighborhood," said Jan McCoy, who has lived in the neighborhood for 25 years. "They are wonderful homes here."
It was a classic Fox Chapel home, built in 1929 and filled with unique design and roots in the community.
Crews had to battle the flames as the sun came up, and the damage was quite extensive.
McCoy, who lives directly across the street, was close with the previous owners who recently moved.
"I was Santa for all of his grandchildren and children," he recalled. "It would be about 35 of them. I would grab the bag of toys in the garage and take them inside, and distribute them to all of his grandchildren and children."
The home recently sold for $1.25 million and was under renovation. It was also recently featured in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for its unique design and World War I-era history.
"I just hope it can be saved," McCoy said. "This is a great house here in the neighborhood.
For those neighbors, watching the flames rip through the home and the potential loss is personal.
Luckily, no one was injured in the fire.