By Bill Vidonic
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review
AMBRIDGE, Pa. — Ambridge firefighters arrived at a burning apartment building early Tuesday to find a chaotic scene: people hanging out windows, desperate for fresh air.
They also found a backpack containing marijuana and cash at the Regency Court Apartments.
Acting police chief James Mann wouldn’t reveal the amount of drugs or money, saying only that an investigation is ongoing.
“It’s a miracle nobody died in this fire,” Mann said.
Crews rescued at least seven people who could not escape the smoke that filled the building about 12:30 a.m. A couple that lived on the top floor of the five-story building, Michael and Nadine Lolly, remained in critical condition last night in UPMC Mercy, Uptown.
In all, 12 people, including the Lollys and three firefighters, were taken to area hospitals for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion. All except the Lollys were released.
Ambridge fire Chief Dave Drewnowski said the Lollys knocked on doors to warn neighbors before they collapsed. Nadine Lolly, 56, was found in the fourth-floor hallway, and Michael Lolly was found in a nearby apartment, whose occupants had fled.
“They saved lives, no doubt,” Drewnowski said. “They’re good Samaritans.”
Several residents of the fourth floor, however, said fire alarms awoke them, and they didn’t remember seeing anyone knocking on doors.
According to rental records, the Lollys moved into the building on Sept. 1. Neighbors said Michael Lolly, 51, used a cane to walk.
Officials said the fire started in the bedroom and quickly spread through the apartment of third-floor resident Jessica Young, who didn’t have electricity and used candles to see. Building owner John Gudzan said Young had electrical service at some point and was unsure why it was disconnected; she had been a tenant for several months.
Two neighbors said she made it out safely. She could not be reached for comment.
Residents described a scene of chaos as flames erupted, saying their sleep was interrupted by smoke detectors and the building’s fire alarm. Ed Gilchrist and Kelly Johnson, who live together, said they banged on doors to alert neighbors. They said police ran into the building to evacuate the lower floors, but heat and smoke drove them back.
“If we weren’t awake, we would have been done for,” said fifth-floor resident Kelvin Martin, 43. He said he fled the building, along with girlfriend Jasmine Key and their 5-year-old son, Isaiah, then tried to get back in to help his daughter, Sharhonda Martin, 20, who lives on the third floor, but she had escaped.
Gilchrist, 46, and Johnson, 45, moved into the building about a month ago. The couple said residents stood outside in shock as the building burned. It took firefighters nearly an hour to douse the fire.
The Red Cross helped 24 people displaced by the fire. Some found housing with relatives, and some were placed in hotels.
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