Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Mentally Ill Man Set Fire at Richland Home for Special-Needs Adults, Fire Marshal Says

No injuries are reported in blaze on West Stag Drive.

UPDATE: A mentally ill man at a Richland home for special-needs adults set his mattress on fire Sunday night, causing damage and the evacuation of the home, according to the fire marshal.

"He got sick and tired of staying in this place and tried to burn the house down," said Richland Fire Marshal Guy Pedicone, who determined the cause of the fire at the West Stag Drive house to be arson.

transported the man to UPMC Mercy Hospital for evaluation, said Pedicone.

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Allegheny County's fire marshal and arson detective will decide where to place the man, Pedicone said. He added that he did not envision the man being jailed.

"This individual keeps running away," the fire marshal said, and Northern Regional police were called previously to bring the man back to the home, which is run by Lifesteps.

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This is the original story filed Sunday night:

No injuries were reported Sunday night when fire damaged a home for special-needs adults in Richland Township.

Two residents and two staff persons were in the house at the time, said neighbor Bob Nepereny. The four sought shelter at his house temporarily while firefighters put out the fire and arrangements were made for lodging for the residents.

The fire damaged a bedroom in the ranch-style home in the 3000 block of West Stag Drive, said Fire Chief Jim Kelly of the

Lifesteps, a nonprofit agency that helps people with special needs, owns the three-bedroom, 1,688-square-foot home, according to Allegheny County Office of Property Assessments records.

A Lifesteps staff person declined to comment.

Richland Township, West Deer and North Hampton volunteer fire companies, and responded to the call.

Firefighters put the fire out in about 20 minutes, said Kelly.

Richland Fire Marshal Guy Pedicone and the Allegheny County Fire Marshal's Office are investigating the cause.


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