RIDGWAY – A 45-year-old Ridgway man is dead and 13 others are homeless following an apartment fire at 205 Main St. at 2:15 a.m. Saturday in Ridgway Borough, Elk County.
According to GantDaily News Partner WJAC-TV, authorities indicated that there weren’t any firefighters injured in the blaze. However, Timothy Keyser, 45, of Ridgway fell from his third floor window, while they worked to rescue him.
Keyser was rushed to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries. In addition, Everett Fowler, 62, also of Ridgway, was initially transported to the Elk Regional Medical Center. He was then airlifted to a Pittsburgh-based hospital for medical treatment.
Thirteen others were either not injured or suffered minor injury. The American Red Cross is currently assisting the victims of the fire, all of whom were left homeless.
A state police fire marshal and the Ridgway Borough Police Department conducted an investigation into the fire, which destroyed the three-story brick building. The Ling Ling Chinese restaurant was located on the first floor and sustained “heavy” water damage, police said.
The second and third floors housed four apartments each. All apartment units were damaged, and its roof collapsed in the fire. Damage is estimated at $750,000; the building was owned by Edward Aiello of Ridgway.
