3 children escape Manor house fire

Jul. 15—Three children were treated and released from an area hospital after escaping a house fire in Manor Thursday morning, according to a relative.

Scott Staudt said a neighbor rescued a 10-year-old boy from the basement of the burning home at 45 Blaine Avenue around 9:45 a.m. A teen boy and girl escaped from the second story and jumped onto tree branches to slide down to safety, he said.

Staudt identified himself as a cousin.

Staudt said the neighbor and he arrived on the scene and were initially driven back by the smoke pouring from the windows and doors of the burning home.

The neighbor who pulled the boy to safety declined to be identified. However, he said he knew the younger child's bedroom was located in the basement "and a couple of the neighbors said they heard screaming."

"You can replace a building, but you can't replace a life," the neighbor said of his decision to make a second attempt to enter the home.

The man said he felt his way through the smoke into the basement, located the boy, and said the youth was a bit reluctant to leave because he couldn't see.

"He wasn't scared at all," the man said.

The man said he told the boy he had to leave, grabbed him by the back of the shirt and guided him up the stairs, out of the house and to safety.

"He may have a couple of scrapes on his belly from rubbing up against the wall, but I think he was OK except for that," the neighbor said.

"I went back in because I knew the two older kids were upstairs, but the fire was just too bad at that point. I'm glad they were able to get out," he said.

The children were taken to Forbes Regional Hospital in Monroeville, according to first responders. The parents were at work and met them at the hospital, firefighters said.

"They were all taken to the hospital," Staudt said. "It was a precaution from smoke, but they're going to be OK."

A state police marshal is investigating the blaze.

Manor Fire Department Capt. Brandon Stepanik said the house "was fully involved in fire" when firefighters pulled in.

"The house is a total loss, but it could have been a lot worse," Stepanik said.

Stepanik confirmed the neighbor rescued the 10-year-old "and the teenagers were able to break a window, climb out on the roof and make it to safety," he said.

A family dog on the porch also was rescued, neighbors said.

Stepanik said two firefighters were also injured and were taken to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Because of the heat, a relief station was set up a few doors from the residence where firefighters could take a 15 minute break before returning to fight the blaze.

"The heat was a big thing. Some neighbors said they thought it started on the front porch, but the state police fire marshal is here to determine that," he said.

The name of the family who lived in the home was not disclosed.

He said the house was a total loss.

The homeowner's mother, Deborah Brown, who lives in Penn, said Thursday afternoon "everyone was treated and released from the hospital."

"Thankfully, everyone is OK. Of course, they are sad they lost all their mementos and pictures, but they can be replaced," she said.

The house was insured, she said.

Paul Peirce is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paul at 724-850-2860, ppeirce@triblive.com or via Twitter .