Children rescued with American Flag in Eldred apartment house fire

Photo courtesy of Otto Township fire department

Fourteen people were displaced about 3 a.m. Friday when a fire swept through an apartment house on Main Street in Eldred. Fire Chief Kevin Cummings told The Bradford Era “When we were dispatched, there were seven (people) on the second floor balcony,” he said. “When I arrived on scene they were lowering the kids down with an American flag.” He noted it was a "large" flag. Thirteen people were sent to hospitals suffering from smoke inhalation. Cummings said the scope of the fire required plenty of help on scene to include Port Allegany, Smethport, Eldred Township, Otto Township, Portville (N.Y.), Coudersport’s aerial, Weston Mills (N.Y.) aerial, the town of Allegany (N.Y.) came in, West Clarksville (N.Y.) was there with tankers to assist. Ambulances from Eldred Borough, Priority Care, Portville, Bradford, Trans Am ALS from Olean and MA3 from Port Allegany responded as well. Many other departments were dispatched for stand-by assignments. The Pennsylvania Fire Marshal ruled the cause  as "undetermined." The structure was deemed unsafe and was ordered demolished. The American Red Cross is assisting the families.