1 dead in New Kensington fire; 2 firemen injured

A New Kensington woman died in a house fire Thursday.

The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office identified the woman as Amy L. Seguiti, no age given. She was inside the home as crews were fighting the fire, the coroner’s office said. The cause and manner of death are under investigation.

An autopsy will be performed Friday, the Coroner’s Office said.

New Kensington fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr. said the fire was reported about 11:50 a.m. in the 1100 block of Strawn Avenue.

Officials from the state police Fire Marshal’s Office, New Kensington police and the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office were on scene investigating the cause and origin of the fire.

Saliba did not immediately know a possible cause.

“Within six minutes, the first engine was on scene, and the crews made an aggressive attack,” Saliba said.

Two New Kensington firefighters were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor burns, Saliba said.

“They were steam burns on their arms,” he said. “They had full protective clothing on, no skin was exposed, but the fire was a very hot fire.”

The fire was under control in just under a half-hour, Saliba said. He noted that the wind Thursday afternoon “did not help things.”

“The wind created a flow path for the fire, and its intensity just went against us,” he said.

“It was a very bad fire,” he said. “The second floor received a lot of damage. The fire gutted out the front bedroom and the upstairs common area outside the bedroom. The first floor received a good bit of water and heat damage.”

There were two cats inside the home that firefighters were able to save, he said, and crews attempted to get a third cat out safely. Saliba did not know the condition of the third cat.

Neighbors also reported heavy fire and smoke.

“When I got here, the flames were pouring out of the second floor,” Dave Krider said.

Roy Stearman, who lives across the street, was making lunch when he heard the sirens and saw the fire.

“I came out, and the flames were jumping out of there,” he said. “And once they got the fire down, the smoke was really piling out.”

Responding agencies included fire and police departments from Arnold and New Kensington, and fire companies from Lower Burrell, Tarentum, Brackenridge and Plum.