Hoopie World: Structure Fire - Sewickley Hills Boro

Hoopie World

Structure Fire - Sewickley Hills Boro - (12/19/04)

Just after 19:00 hours on December 19, 2004, Northwest Regional 9-1-1 received a call from an alarm company reporting an automatic fire alarm activation for the residence located at 6 Demar Drive in Sewickley Hills Borough. Before the assignment could even be dispatched, Northwest began receiving multiple calls from neighbors reporting fire coming from the structure. Northwest dispatched Ohio Township Fire Department (Station 220) on the first alarm assignment, as well as Ohio Township Police and Ross/West View EMS. Arriving just moments later, 220C2 (Assistant Chief Penfield) arrived on scene, established command and reported heavy fire showing from the large, two-story, residential structure. With the fire already consuming both floors of the home, Assistant Chief Penfield immediately called for a second alarm assignment. Northwest dispatched Franklin Park (Station 158), Ben Avon (Station 109) and Emsworth (Station 148) to the scene. With heavy fire through the roof, command positioned 220 Truck on the A/B corner of the structure to start the defensive attack. Working together with the second alarm companies, 220 Engine stretched multiple hand lines to the remaining sides of the structure where access was limited. With the fire continuing to grow and the temperature dropping below 10 degrees, command requested Sewickley (Station 258) and Aleppo (Station 101) to the scene for manpower. Crews from Ben Avon and Emsworth were assigned the R.I.T, which consisted of several crews strategically placed around the structure. Firefighters battled the fire and the extreme temperatures throughout the night. The fire was declared under control around 22:00 hours. Command advised the bulk of the fire was extinguished and crews would be remaining on scene for an extended period of time to perform overhaul and extinguishment of hot spots. Companies on the second and third alarms began to pack up and go in service just after midnight. Crews from Ohio Township remained on scene well into the early morning, assisting the Allegheny County Fire Marshals with the investigation. No injures have been reported.

Pictures by - Brian Craig