web1_TTL013019feature1.jpg

Brace yourselves for an icy blast: -5 or lower on Wednesday

web1_DC_DCappella_4-1-.jpg

DCappella to perform at F.M. Kirby Center

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Two men said they convinced three girls to jump from a second-story window to escape heavy smoke and flames at a Scott Street apartment building early Tuesday.</p><p>Edward McGrady, 58, and Randy Kreitzer, 60, both of Wilkes-Barre, said they had earlier tried to rescue the girls, with McGrady kicking in a door. But the men were overcome by smoke and flames and had to retreat.</p><p>McGrady and Kreitzer were hanging out with friends playing cards inside 396 Scott St. when they heard someone scream &#8220;fire&#8221; just after 2 a.m.</p><p>&#8220;We were playing cards, just talking and hanging out when we heard a lady scream downstairs &#8216;there&#8217;s smoke, the house is on fire, everyone get out,&#8217;&#8221; McGrady recalled.</p><p>McGrady and Kreitzer thought someone was playing a joke on them. But when they looked out a door, they noticed the smoke.</p><p>City Fire Chief Jay Delaney said firefighters responded to 396-398 Scott St. at 2:11 a.m. Before crews arrived, Delaney said two girls, both 11, jumped out a second-floor window. The girls were transported to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital for non-fire related injuries, Delaney said.</p><p>But McGrady and Kreitzer said there were actually three girls who jumped out the second-floor window, two younger girls and an older one.</p><p>&#8220;When Eddie kicked in the door, it got knocked off its hinges,&#8221; Kreitzer said. &#8220;I went low but that didn&#8217;t work because the flames, heat and black smoke was unbearable. There was no way to get in there. God gave me the strength and we had to do what we had to do.&#8221;</p><p>McGrady said he crawled on his hands and knees in the burning apartment at 398 Scott St. but was forced back out due to heavy smoke.</p><p>&#8220;When I kicked the door open, I got blown back from the backdraft,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It hit me so hard, it knocked me to the next apartment we were in.&#8221;</p><p>McGrady and Kreitzer then ran outside and noticed the girls&#8217; mother screaming. They managed to convince the older girl to have the two younger girls jump out the window.</p><p>&#8220;We were telling them, &#8216;we will catch you,&#8217; and we did,&#8221; McGrady said.</p><p>McGrady said he and Kreitzer managed to break the fall of the older girl who they believe suffered a broken leg when she landed.</p><p>&#8220;You could see the flames behind them as they jumped out the window,&#8221; noted McGrady.</p><p>The blaze heavily damaged 398 Scott St. and caused mostly smoke damage to 396 Scott.</p><p>Chief Delaney said a total of eight people resided in the three apartment units at the building.</p><p>The Wyoming Valley chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting those displaced tenants, Delaney said. </p><p>No other injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.</p><p>Firefighters from Kingston/Forty Fort assisted at the scene.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL013019fire1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">An apartment building at 396-98 Scott St. in Wilkes-Barre caught fire early Tuesday. Two men helped rescue three girls from one unit. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL013019fire1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>An apartment building at 396-98 Scott St. in Wilkes-Barre caught fire early Tuesday. Two men helped rescue three girls from one unit. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL013019Fire2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Edward McGrady and Randy Kreitzer talk about saving three girls from a Scott Street fire early Tuesday in Wilkes-Barre. They initially tried to get inside a unit to save the girls, but they were overcome by heat and smoke. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL013019Fire2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Edward McGrady and Randy Kreitzer talk about saving three girls from a Scott Street fire early Tuesday in Wilkes-Barre. They initially tried to get inside a unit to save the girls, but they were overcome by heat and smoke. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL013019Fire3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Edward McGrady and Randy Kreitzer talk about saving three girls from a Scott Street fire early Tuesday in Wilkes-Barre. They initially tried to get inside a unit to save the girls, but they were overcome by heat and smoke. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL013019Fire3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Edward McGrady and Randy Kreitzer talk about saving three girls from a Scott Street fire early Tuesday in Wilkes-Barre. They initially tried to get inside a unit to save the girls, but they were overcome by heat and smoke. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Men tried to rescue girls from WB fire, convinced them to jump