Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Dec. 20:
4 rescued from Monongahela fire
Four people used an escape ladder to flee a fire in their Mon Valley home early Wednesday morning.
The fire was reported at about 4 a.m. at a home along Park Avenue in Monongahela borough, Washington County, reported TribLive news partner WTAE.
Two women and two children used the ladder out a window from the second story of the home. They were later rescued from the roof by firefighters, according to WTAE.
The residents were taken to the hospital, but no details were available on the extent of their injuries.
The Monongahela fire chief told WTAE the fire likely started in the kitchen.
SWAT called to South Side
SWAT officers responded to an incident in Pittsburgh’s South Side on Tuesday after a man barricaded himself inside a residence.
A South Side woman told police Tuesday that a man in her house was threatening to kill her and her cats and burn down the house, public safety officials told TribLive news partner WTAE.
The incident occurred at a home in the 400 block of East Carson Street, and SWAT, fire and first responders were called to the scene.
The man inside was arrested and taken into custody, and WTAE reported his name was not released.
Police said the woman was escorted away, unharmed.
No one was injured, said police.
2 North Side businesses close after fire
A Tuesday morning fire hit the 1100 block of Federal Street in Pittsburgh’s North Side has closed two local businesses.
El Burro Mexican restaurant and Nana’s New York Hot Dog Shop have closed for an indefinite period after the two-alarm fire hit 1110 Federal St. and spread next door.
Public safety officials said a rear porch of the building was fully engulfed in flames, and the blaze extended to the attic area of the adjacent structure.
Officials said one male was outside of the building when firefighters arrived and medics transported him to the hospital in stable condition with smoke inhalation and cardiac issues. He did not live inside the building, officials said.
No occupants were inside either building and no firefighters were injured, officials said.
Pittsburgh’s Fire Investigation Unit will investigate the cause of the fire.
Ryan Deto is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Ryan by email at rdeto@triblive.com or via Twitter .