October 17th, 2007 - Blawnox, Allegheny County, PA -- At 09:09 on October 17, 2007 Station 111 (Blawnox), Station 102 (Aspinwall), Station 219 Truck (Guyasuta), Station 166 (Harmar) and Station 265 Truck (Sharpsburg) were dispatched to 701 Center Ave. Blawnox for a reported building on fire. Within a minute of dispatch Blawnox Police reported one apartment on the third floor fully involved. Blawnox and O’Hara Police started evacuating the building. 111 Engine 2 arrived on scene and pulled a 2½ inch line to supply the standpipe. 102 Engine took the hydrant and supplied 111 Engine 2 and 219 Truck. Within minutes of arriving on scene 111 Chief requested a second alarm. Station 157 (Fox Chapel) and Station 191 (Millvale) were dispatched on the second alarm. Station 260 (Cherry City) was also dispatched. The first interior crew found heavy smoke on the third floor of the building and started an attack on the fire. Due to the size of the building and most residents being elderly 111 Chief requested Station 216 (Oakmont) and Station 149 (Etna) for manpower. Interior crews reported the fire knocked down at 09:40. First units started clearing the scene around 11:00 and the last units cleared around 14:00. Five police officers were treated for smoke inhalation. One firefighter had an ankle injury.

Story by Tom Witas
Photos by Blawnox VFC

1st Three Pictures by Jared Premick