Early-morning fire at Bridgeville Towers senior high-rise sends multiple people to the hospital

An early-morning fire has forced several people out of the Bridgeville Towers senior high-rise apartment building.

The fire broke out around 4:15 a.m. Tuesday at the apartment building along Bank Street Extension.

Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department Deputy Chief Ron Baselj said that the first call came in for a fire alarm on the 8th floor of the building and that the first crews to respond rescued one woman from the building.

Officials said at least four people in total, including one firefighter, were taken to the hospital. The extent of the injuries is unknown at this time. 

Raymond Jester said he got out of the building with his pets before going back inside to help another woman get out. 

"It was very, very scary," Jester said. "It took me almost an hour, half an hour to get her down."

Deputy Chief Baselj said firefighters were actually able to keep many residents sheltered in place inside the building.

"Instead of bringing them down, we were able to keep them in there," Baselj said.

At last check, the assistant fire chief told KDKA-TV that most residents have been permitted back inside the building, with the exception being those who resided on the eighth floor, where the fire originated.

Baselj said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.