Two firefighters suffered minor injuries battling an early morning residential fire in New Kensington.
New Kensington fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr. said New Kensington police patrolling the neighborhood were alerted to a house in flames. Firefighters were dispatched to the home in the 500 block of Constitution Boulevard at 3:36 a.m.
Saliba said the three-story frame home was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived moments later.
A firefighter from the Lower Burrell No. 3 Volunteer Fire Department suffered second-degree burns on his neck, Saliba said. He was taken to Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison, where he was treated and released. A firefighter from New Kensington No. 4 suffered a minor back injury and was treated at the scene.
Firefighters from multiple departments were at the scene for about six hours Saturday morning.
The fire chief said the people who live there were not home. Saliba said the Red Cross was attempting to contact the owners of the home, whom he did not identify.
The chief said the house is a total loss.
A frame house next door sustained minor exterior damage.
The cause of the fire was undetermined. Saliba said the state police fire marshal based in Greensburg is investigating.
