Cigarette in couch caused fire at high-rise, authorities suspect

Some residents can't return home until Friday.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Authorities believe a cigarette caused a fire at a public housing high-rise that left 89 people temporarily homeless.
No one was injured in the blaze at Lawrence Manor, but the building was not expected to reopen to some residents until noon today.
Robert Evanick, executive director of the Lawrence County Housing Authority, said investigators believe a cigarette caught a couch on fire in a fourth-floor apartment at 10:10 p.m. Tuesday. Neighbors smelled smoke and got the elderly woman out of her apartment before she was seriously hurt, he said.
Authority employees were on hand to evacuate all of the residents and help transfer them to shelter.
Taken to hospital
New Castle Fire Chief Jeff Scrim said about 15 people, including the woman whose apartment burned, were taken to Jameson Hospital as a precaution.
Evanick said seven people went to a nearby nursing home, Edison Manor, and 16 others were taken to the Scottish Rite Cathedral, where they were housed overnight. The rest went to relatives or other housing authority properties, he said.
Those housed at the Scottish Rite Cathedral were moved Wednesday afternoon to the Comfort Inn in New Castle by the American Red Cross, said John Stubbs, Red Cross executive director.
Airing it out
Evanick said the housing authority was working to air out the building before letting anyone return. Those on the first three floors will be permitted back at noon today and residents of the upper floors can return at noon Friday.
Evanick said the building is designated for elderly residents, but there are some younger tenants.