Three Saved During Fatal PA Apartment Fire

Though there was a loss of life, Meadville's first responders earned praise for their actions in Friday morning's apartment house fire for saving others.

Firefighters rescued three people from porch roofs at the burning apartment house at 697 Terrace St.

"We arrived at 1:48 a.m. flames were showing out the front of the building," Meadville Central Fire Department Chief Evan Hasko said. "They were able to rescue three people off the roofs safely."

One man was rescued from a second floor porch roof while two others — a man and a woman — were saved from a second floor porch on the rear of the building, Hasko said.

"They did a tremendous job," Hasko said.

Andy Walker, Meadville's city manager, called the loss of life a "searing blow" to first responders and the community.

"But perhaps the better story, if we stand back, is the success of last night’s rescue efforts — the many lives saved by the heroic work of both our police and fire departments and the many supporting fire departments and agencies on whom we depend," Walker said.

Walker, who was at the fire scene, also credited John Kleffel, the apartment building's owner, for helping to "ensure that his tenants, many of whom are our communities' most vulnerable citizens, had been accounted for and taken care of."

The city also was grateful to the many volunteers and social service agencies who provided aid during the fire and its aftermath, Walker said.

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