Cause remains undetermined that destroyed 3-unit apartment building in East Deer fire

Investigators are still working to determine what caused a fire late Thursday that destroyed an East Deer apartment building.

“There’s no answers yet,” fire Chief Jack Bailie Jr. said Saturday. “We probably won’t know for a couple weeks.”

Bailie heads up the East Deer Volunteer Fire Department, which was among five departments that battled flames at 163 Freeport Road.

At least three people and several pets were displaced by the fire, which engulfed the building just after 11:15 p.m.

The township will work early next week to condemn the building.

On Saturday, charred remains sat among remnants from the apartments. A couch cushion was tossed into the yard and a bike was parked along the sidewalk.

There were three apartments in the building, two on the top floor and one on the first floor.

The tenants’ names were not available.

Bailie said a man living in one of the apartments helped a woman in another unit to escape. The man suffered slight burns to the back of his head, Bailie said.

Several groups are working to collect donations for the victims, among them the Western Pennsylvania Search and Rescue Development Center in Penn Hills.

Food, clothes and toiletries are needed, but specific sizes were not yet available.

Matt Mitcheltree, marketing director, said his group is working to get in touch with the tenants to compile a detailed list of needs.

An online donation page is available at wpsardc.org. Donations also can also be made at the office from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays at 1405 Frey Road, Penn Hills.