Smoky fire damages abandoned building in Arnold, tentatively considered 'suspicious'

A fire ripped through an abandoned two-story building in Arnold on Saturday morning with such power that neighbors described windows being blown out by the flames.

“It was so hot that the windows broke open,” said Ed Taylor, 63, who lives across the street from the structure on Fourth Avenue.

Taylor said the fire created so much smoke that it looked like a foggy day outside, even though the sun had been shining all morning.

Arnold Fire Department spokesman Chris O’Leath said the department received calls at 10:34 a.m. for the fire at 1520 Fourth Ave.

He said it took about 30 minutes to extinguish the flames, and most smoke and fire was coming from the second floor. Six fire companies responded, including those from Arnold, New Kensington, Brackenridge, Lower Burrell, Murrys­ville and Plum.

O’Leath said the building has been abandoned for some time. Taylor said the building had been abandoned for at least 15 years.

O’Leath said there was significant hoarding inside that fueled the fire.

“It starts burning that stuff, and it gets up there,” he said.

No injuries occurred, O’Leath said. There were no active utilities to the building, and West Penn Power cut a power cable to the building following the fire.

O’Leath said the cause was not immediately known. He said the fire department will list the cause “as suspicious.”

A fire marshal will be investigating, according to O’Leath.