Family Of 7 Safe After Massive Fire Rips Through Home In Bellevue
BELLEVUE, Pa. (KDKA) - A three-alarm fire damaged a family's home in Bellevue.
Firefighters and medics battled the blaze on the 400 block of Orchard Avenue in Bellevue on Monday.
When crews first arrived, bright orange flames were engulfing much of the house.
The neighbors were the ones who saw the flames shooting from the house and called 911.
WATCH: Crews Battle Blazing Fire --
"By the time anyone saw it, fire was already coming out of multiple windows. So it had a couple minutes of free burn time before anyone even called us," said Bellevue Fire Chief Glenn Pritchard.
The homeowner was exercising in the garage behind the house when a neighbor told him his house was on fire, officials said.
Officials believe the fire started on the right side of the home.
Officials said one firefighter did suffer a minor burn and another was cut on a piece of glass, but both continued working.
The fire chief said stability is an issue because the pillars on the front of the home are falling down.
There are seven people who live in the home, but a woman and her five children were not home when the fire broke out.
"Words can't describe, it's a true godsend that no one was home," said Ashley Barno, who is a family friend.
Friends of the family told KDKA that they are working to set up a fundraiser for the five children, who are ages 6 months to 13 years.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.
