About 28 People Were Evacuated as Firefighters Battled Flames in Pottsville, Pennsylvania

POTTSVILLE, Pa. (AP) -- About 28 people were evacuated as firefighters battled flames and thick smoke spreading through two three-story houses converted to apartments.

It took more than two hours to control the blaze Wednesday afternoon.

Pottsville Fire Chief Todd March said firefighters had extinguished an initial blaze that started in the basement of one of the buildings.

''The fire started inside and started climbing the walls,'' March said. ''The fire in the basement was knocked down by our guys, and we figured we had it under control but saw it come out the first floor.''

Wind fanned the flames, forcing firefighters back out of the building. ''It got ahead of us because of all the peaks and gables in the houses,'' March said.

Firefighters controlled the blaze by 4 p.m., and March said officials were investigating the cause.