1 man dead following apartment fire in Wilkinsburg

A man has died following a fire inside an apartment complex in Wilkinsburg, officials said.

Multiple fire crews were called to the Douglas Plaza Apartments on Laketon Road on Monday afternoon, forcing dozens of residents outside.

Residents said they smelled smoke, heard the fire alarm, and had just minutes to evacuate. Many were seen wrapped in blankets, wearing masks, with some struggling to breathe as they waited for firefighters to extinguish the flames.

Neighbors who spoke with KDKA-TV said many of the people who live here are elderly and disabled, which made it even harder for some to get out in time.

"We look out for other neighbors on the floor to make sure they're out. I was walking down the steps, and there was a woman that was in a wheelchair," resident Denise White said. "She was on the fourth floor, and she wasn't able to breathe. They had brought her out, and they had a towel on her, trying to help her to calm down."

For some, the shock was just setting in as they realized one of their friends didn't make it out. The victim, a quadriplegic, couldn't escape the building in time. His identity has not been released.

"We've known him. We've known him a long time. His mother used to be here. She passed away quite a number of years ago, and he was in a wheelchair. He needed help. I am sad to know that he passed," White said.

"It broke my heart. There are so many elderly people up here. It's sad. A lot of people don't have any way to go down the stairs, so it's just really sad," fellow tenant Angel Coates said.

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal has been requested to investigate the origin and cause of the fire. County police have also been called to assist.